Google Automatically Creating Real Name Accounts??

[APlotdevice]

While checking my inbox today I noticed a message telling me that a new gmail address had been created based on my actual name, and linked to my existing account. Now I am quite positive that I didn't create this account; other than for billing and shipping information, I have and will NEVER intentionally give out my real name online. So what on Earth is going on? Did Google just do this without even asking my permission? Has anyone else out there seen this happen to them?

 

[smithrh]

Poked around a bit and haven't found anyone else mentioning anything along these lines. However, someone is always first, no?

Can you post the body of the email?

 

[APlotdevice]

Sure:

Welcome to Gmail! You can login to your account at http://mail.google.com/.

Here are a couple of tips to help you get started:

Use Gmail's import tools to move mail and contacts from your other email accounts to your new Gmail address.
Download the mobile app for Android or iPhone and iPad to stay connected on the go.
Should you ever encounter problems with your account or forget your password we will contact you at this address.

Enjoy!

The Gmail Team

As you can see, it's just a standard account creation reply.

 

[0dev]

Very strange. Looks to me someone created a new Gmail account and put your account as the recovery. No idea why, email Google and see what they say about it.

 

[ValSalva]

While checking my inbox today I noticed a message telling me that a new gmail address had been created based on my actual name, and linked to my existing account. Now I am quite positive that I didn't create this account; other than for billing and shipping information, I have and will NEVER intentionally give out my real name online. So what on Earth is going on? Did Google just do this without even asking my permission? Has anyone else out there seen this happen to them?

You mean APlotdevice isn't your real name???

I have no idea what your real name is and therefore if there are a lot of people who share the same or similar name.

I've had people with a similar name to me create a gmail account similar to mine and link it to my gmail address. I'm not sure why they would do this because it makes it easy for me to take over their new account. Laziness? A lack of understanding of how email accounts work? I don't know.

Maybe this is what's happening to you.