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Respond to an email which I believe I received by mistake [closed]
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I received an email from one of my colleagues (we aren't personally acquainted) on some irrelevant topic. First I thought that the email was sent to some large group including me, but it was sent to another employee and I was cc-ed.
I'm pretty sure this email was sent to me by mistake, but it looks a little suspicious to me.
Is it appropriate to respond to this email to make sure it was a mistake?
P.S. This might be relevant: the email addresses of all employees are accessible and auto filled in our mailing system.
work-environment email
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
closed as not constructive by Jim G., squeemish, CincinnatiProgrammer, ChrisF, Rhys Apr 2 '13 at 7:49
As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, visit the help center for guidance. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I received an email from one of my colleagues (we aren't personally acquainted) on some irrelevant topic. First I thought that the email was sent to some large group including me, but it was sent to another employee and I was cc-ed.
I'm pretty sure this email was sent to me by mistake, but it looks a little suspicious to me.
Is it appropriate to respond to this email to make sure it was a mistake?
P.S. This might be relevant: the email addresses of all employees are accessible and auto filled in our mailing system.
work-environment email
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
closed as not constructive by Jim G., squeemish, CincinnatiProgrammer, ChrisF, Rhys Apr 2 '13 at 7:49
As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, visit the help center for guidance. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
What do you find suspicious about it?
– Blrfl
Apr 1 '13 at 14:24
1
Simply consider how you would want the situation handled if you had accidently sent such an email to the wrong recipient. In other words, it is hard to go wrong if you treat others as you would want to be treated.
– Angelo
Apr 1 '13 at 14:38
@Blrfl, what looks suspicious to me is that, even though there is an auto fill, it would be hard to type my name by mistake. The email came from the US office, while I'm working in Armenia, and my surname is typical Armenian. Besides no one in the whole company has a surname like mine.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 14:53
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
I received an email from one of my colleagues (we aren't personally acquainted) on some irrelevant topic. First I thought that the email was sent to some large group including me, but it was sent to another employee and I was cc-ed.
I'm pretty sure this email was sent to me by mistake, but it looks a little suspicious to me.
Is it appropriate to respond to this email to make sure it was a mistake?
P.S. This might be relevant: the email addresses of all employees are accessible and auto filled in our mailing system.
work-environment email
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
I received an email from one of my colleagues (we aren't personally acquainted) on some irrelevant topic. First I thought that the email was sent to some large group including me, but it was sent to another employee and I was cc-ed.
I'm pretty sure this email was sent to me by mistake, but it looks a little suspicious to me.
Is it appropriate to respond to this email to make sure it was a mistake?
P.S. This might be relevant: the email addresses of all employees are accessible and auto filled in our mailing system.
work-environment email
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:17
IDrinkandIKnowThings
43.9k1398188
43.9k1398188
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
asked Apr 1 '13 at 6:53
superM
2,34421927
2,34421927
closed as not constructive by Jim G., squeemish, CincinnatiProgrammer, ChrisF, Rhys Apr 2 '13 at 7:49
As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, visit the help center for guidance. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as not constructive by Jim G., squeemish, CincinnatiProgrammer, ChrisF, Rhys Apr 2 '13 at 7:49
As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, visit the help center for guidance. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
What do you find suspicious about it?
– Blrfl
Apr 1 '13 at 14:24
1
Simply consider how you would want the situation handled if you had accidently sent such an email to the wrong recipient. In other words, it is hard to go wrong if you treat others as you would want to be treated.
– Angelo
Apr 1 '13 at 14:38
@Blrfl, what looks suspicious to me is that, even though there is an auto fill, it would be hard to type my name by mistake. The email came from the US office, while I'm working in Armenia, and my surname is typical Armenian. Besides no one in the whole company has a surname like mine.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 14:53
add a comment |Â
What do you find suspicious about it?
– Blrfl
Apr 1 '13 at 14:24
1
Simply consider how you would want the situation handled if you had accidently sent such an email to the wrong recipient. In other words, it is hard to go wrong if you treat others as you would want to be treated.
– Angelo
Apr 1 '13 at 14:38
@Blrfl, what looks suspicious to me is that, even though there is an auto fill, it would be hard to type my name by mistake. The email came from the US office, while I'm working in Armenia, and my surname is typical Armenian. Besides no one in the whole company has a surname like mine.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 14:53
What do you find suspicious about it?
– Blrfl
Apr 1 '13 at 14:24
What do you find suspicious about it?
– Blrfl
Apr 1 '13 at 14:24
1
1
Simply consider how you would want the situation handled if you had accidently sent such an email to the wrong recipient. In other words, it is hard to go wrong if you treat others as you would want to be treated.
– Angelo
Apr 1 '13 at 14:38
Simply consider how you would want the situation handled if you had accidently sent such an email to the wrong recipient. In other words, it is hard to go wrong if you treat others as you would want to be treated.
– Angelo
Apr 1 '13 at 14:38
@Blrfl, what looks suspicious to me is that, even though there is an auto fill, it would be hard to type my name by mistake. The email came from the US office, while I'm working in Armenia, and my surname is typical Armenian. Besides no one in the whole company has a surname like mine.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 14:53
@Blrfl, what looks suspicious to me is that, even though there is an auto fill, it would be hard to type my name by mistake. The email came from the US office, while I'm working in Armenia, and my surname is typical Armenian. Besides no one in the whole company has a surname like mine.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 14:53
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
Accidental emails are commonplace if your system is indeed using auto complete and there are user accounts with similar names. So in your case, unless there is another reason to suggest otherwise, I recommend you just treat it as an accident.
If its a work related email (whether related to you or some other party), I would advise that you email him back officially without the CCs and let him know what happened.
This is mainly because:
- He might not know that the intended recipient did not receive the mail and that it might be important.
- Officially provide a verifiable trail to cover yourself in case unsuspected things happen
- Your company might have a policy in place regarding miss sent emails that you are not aware of.
Either way, it doesn't hurt to err on the side of safety.
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
I have faced these kind of incidents many times because there are many people in my organisation with the same name as me.
The appropriate action for these kinds of accidental emails are
(1) Reply back to him politely by saying something like "I think this email was sent to me by mistake. Please let me know if it is really intended for me". He will realize and take preventive actions if it was an accident.
(2) Just ping him and get clarification about the mail like "Hey I am slightly confused with the email that you sent yesterday with the subject XXXXXX. What is that about?". If the email was a mistake, he will realize and take preventive actions in the future.
(3)In my organisation, 2 other people exist with my name. Quite often, I receive emails intended for others. At such times, I usually try to identify the right person and send it to them. Many times, I search in the directory for other recipients. If many of the recipients(CC'ed people also) belong to same group or department, I will go to that department and check the members of that department. If any body in the group has the same name as me, I will forward that mail to him, saying "I believe this email is intended for you. I received it by mistake".
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
2
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
Accidental emails are commonplace if your system is indeed using auto complete and there are user accounts with similar names. So in your case, unless there is another reason to suggest otherwise, I recommend you just treat it as an accident.
If its a work related email (whether related to you or some other party), I would advise that you email him back officially without the CCs and let him know what happened.
This is mainly because:
- He might not know that the intended recipient did not receive the mail and that it might be important.
- Officially provide a verifiable trail to cover yourself in case unsuspected things happen
- Your company might have a policy in place regarding miss sent emails that you are not aware of.
Either way, it doesn't hurt to err on the side of safety.
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
Accidental emails are commonplace if your system is indeed using auto complete and there are user accounts with similar names. So in your case, unless there is another reason to suggest otherwise, I recommend you just treat it as an accident.
If its a work related email (whether related to you or some other party), I would advise that you email him back officially without the CCs and let him know what happened.
This is mainly because:
- He might not know that the intended recipient did not receive the mail and that it might be important.
- Officially provide a verifiable trail to cover yourself in case unsuspected things happen
- Your company might have a policy in place regarding miss sent emails that you are not aware of.
Either way, it doesn't hurt to err on the side of safety.
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
up vote
13
down vote
accepted
Accidental emails are commonplace if your system is indeed using auto complete and there are user accounts with similar names. So in your case, unless there is another reason to suggest otherwise, I recommend you just treat it as an accident.
If its a work related email (whether related to you or some other party), I would advise that you email him back officially without the CCs and let him know what happened.
This is mainly because:
- He might not know that the intended recipient did not receive the mail and that it might be important.
- Officially provide a verifiable trail to cover yourself in case unsuspected things happen
- Your company might have a policy in place regarding miss sent emails that you are not aware of.
Either way, it doesn't hurt to err on the side of safety.
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
Accidental emails are commonplace if your system is indeed using auto complete and there are user accounts with similar names. So in your case, unless there is another reason to suggest otherwise, I recommend you just treat it as an accident.
If its a work related email (whether related to you or some other party), I would advise that you email him back officially without the CCs and let him know what happened.
This is mainly because:
- He might not know that the intended recipient did not receive the mail and that it might be important.
- Officially provide a verifiable trail to cover yourself in case unsuspected things happen
- Your company might have a policy in place regarding miss sent emails that you are not aware of.
Either way, it doesn't hurt to err on the side of safety.
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
answered Apr 1 '13 at 7:12
Permas
4,83111829
4,83111829
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
add a comment |Â
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
The email wasn't about work. So I guess you're right, responding to it would be over-reacting.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 8:17
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@superM He wrote: "I would advise that you email him back officially".
– DJClayworth
Apr 1 '13 at 15:29
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
@DJClayworth, it's in case if the email is related to work, but it is not. Maybe I didn't get right, but that is how I understood that.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 18:37
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
I have faced these kind of incidents many times because there are many people in my organisation with the same name as me.
The appropriate action for these kinds of accidental emails are
(1) Reply back to him politely by saying something like "I think this email was sent to me by mistake. Please let me know if it is really intended for me". He will realize and take preventive actions if it was an accident.
(2) Just ping him and get clarification about the mail like "Hey I am slightly confused with the email that you sent yesterday with the subject XXXXXX. What is that about?". If the email was a mistake, he will realize and take preventive actions in the future.
(3)In my organisation, 2 other people exist with my name. Quite often, I receive emails intended for others. At such times, I usually try to identify the right person and send it to them. Many times, I search in the directory for other recipients. If many of the recipients(CC'ed people also) belong to same group or department, I will go to that department and check the members of that department. If any body in the group has the same name as me, I will forward that mail to him, saying "I believe this email is intended for you. I received it by mistake".
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
2
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
I have faced these kind of incidents many times because there are many people in my organisation with the same name as me.
The appropriate action for these kinds of accidental emails are
(1) Reply back to him politely by saying something like "I think this email was sent to me by mistake. Please let me know if it is really intended for me". He will realize and take preventive actions if it was an accident.
(2) Just ping him and get clarification about the mail like "Hey I am slightly confused with the email that you sent yesterday with the subject XXXXXX. What is that about?". If the email was a mistake, he will realize and take preventive actions in the future.
(3)In my organisation, 2 other people exist with my name. Quite often, I receive emails intended for others. At such times, I usually try to identify the right person and send it to them. Many times, I search in the directory for other recipients. If many of the recipients(CC'ed people also) belong to same group or department, I will go to that department and check the members of that department. If any body in the group has the same name as me, I will forward that mail to him, saying "I believe this email is intended for you. I received it by mistake".
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
2
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
add a comment |Â
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
I have faced these kind of incidents many times because there are many people in my organisation with the same name as me.
The appropriate action for these kinds of accidental emails are
(1) Reply back to him politely by saying something like "I think this email was sent to me by mistake. Please let me know if it is really intended for me". He will realize and take preventive actions if it was an accident.
(2) Just ping him and get clarification about the mail like "Hey I am slightly confused with the email that you sent yesterday with the subject XXXXXX. What is that about?". If the email was a mistake, he will realize and take preventive actions in the future.
(3)In my organisation, 2 other people exist with my name. Quite often, I receive emails intended for others. At such times, I usually try to identify the right person and send it to them. Many times, I search in the directory for other recipients. If many of the recipients(CC'ed people also) belong to same group or department, I will go to that department and check the members of that department. If any body in the group has the same name as me, I will forward that mail to him, saying "I believe this email is intended for you. I received it by mistake".
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
I have faced these kind of incidents many times because there are many people in my organisation with the same name as me.
The appropriate action for these kinds of accidental emails are
(1) Reply back to him politely by saying something like "I think this email was sent to me by mistake. Please let me know if it is really intended for me". He will realize and take preventive actions if it was an accident.
(2) Just ping him and get clarification about the mail like "Hey I am slightly confused with the email that you sent yesterday with the subject XXXXXX. What is that about?". If the email was a mistake, he will realize and take preventive actions in the future.
(3)In my organisation, 2 other people exist with my name. Quite often, I receive emails intended for others. At such times, I usually try to identify the right person and send it to them. Many times, I search in the directory for other recipients. If many of the recipients(CC'ed people also) belong to same group or department, I will go to that department and check the members of that department. If any body in the group has the same name as me, I will forward that mail to him, saying "I believe this email is intended for you. I received it by mistake".
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
edited Apr 1 '13 at 13:59
Kevin
2,11821015
2,11821015
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
answered Apr 1 '13 at 9:11
Babu
3,28332059
3,28332059
2
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
add a comment |Â
2
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
2
2
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
I agree with (1) and (2), but I wouldn't do (3) if there are multiple candidates (you said "other people" have your name). If you get it wrong you're just compounding the problem. I always handle mis-sent email by replying to the sender and letting him handle it from there.
– Monica Cellio♦
Apr 2 '13 at 2:56
add a comment |Â
What do you find suspicious about it?
– Blrfl
Apr 1 '13 at 14:24
1
Simply consider how you would want the situation handled if you had accidently sent such an email to the wrong recipient. In other words, it is hard to go wrong if you treat others as you would want to be treated.
– Angelo
Apr 1 '13 at 14:38
@Blrfl, what looks suspicious to me is that, even though there is an auto fill, it would be hard to type my name by mistake. The email came from the US office, while I'm working in Armenia, and my surname is typical Armenian. Besides no one in the whole company has a surname like mine.
– superM
Apr 1 '13 at 14:53