Just received a few emails sent to me in error with someone's personal info

[scho63]

Last week I received an email from the Ohio Department of Family Services that was highly specific for a family case that was being handled by one of their investors/mediators.

I deleted it as I thought it was a good phishing attempt.

Then a few days ago I received an update on the case that went into even greater details with a pdf attachment.

I could have easily blackmailed someone based on what was in this report or ruined someone's life if I disclosed this.

I called the investigators phone, it was real and she contacted me to thank me for reporting the error.

Have any of you gotten a valid email sent to you in error with highly sensitive data?

[penguinz]

You live an amazing life.

[TLO]

Yes, it happens on a pretty regular basis for me, actually. (My work email)

It's usually nothing hugely life altering, but it certainly violates HIPPA.

I kindly send a message back or call them and inform them of their error, then delete the message.

[scho63]

I also wonder how the hell they used my email in the first place.

[wazu]

Originally Posted by scho63

I also wonder how the hell they used my email in the first place.

Probably got their database scrambled with some FBI watch list.

[RedinTexas]

I keep hearing from some Nigerian Prince.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by RedinTexas

I keep hearing from some Nigerian Prince.

I think they have emailed every person in the US multiple times.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by scho63

I also wonder how the hell they used my email in the first place.

I guess pastabrioniescortmilfhunter @yahoo.com is popular? Maybe they were pastabrioniescortmilfhunter2?

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by scho63

I also wonder how the hell they used my email in the first place.

Probably from the phone of a dead hooker.

[Balto]

Originally Posted by scho63

I also wonder how the hell they used my email in the first place.

Maybe they are investigating you and mixed up the file........

[KCJake]

Give ya $20 for it

[Bearcat]

PSA from an IT guy: Don't open attachments from unsolicited and/or unknown senders.

[DanT]

That was good of you, scho63, to help correct the problem!

I've not inadvertently received confidential emails meant for someone else, but my office phone number was once one digit away from our hospital's high-volume medical records phone number, so I would get several "wrong numbers" a month from patients, insurers, or providers. I finally got around to switching the number to make it so that two digits would have to be misdialed and that eliminated that problem.

[ChiefsCountry]

Damn you could have been eating Olive Garden and hookers on someone else's dime

[myselff77]

I work for a large company. When I first started, there was someone high up in HR with a name pretty similar to mine. I would get emails intended for him from time to time. Normally it was no big deal, but then one day someone else in HR sent an email to me and the CEO regarding an upcoming employee meeting with the intention of breaking up the union (though nothing had been announced) and called out a specific employee who would be contentious and advice on how to deal with that person's questions.

30 minutes after I got the email, it mysteriously vanished from my mailbox. An hour later I got a call asking if I had perhaps seen a sensitive email to which I replied "no" and pretended to have no idea what they were talking about. Within the year, the union workers were out...