For the last two months, I have been perplexed seeing a google chat request from an unknown person whenever I logged into google email. I never added that id to my chat list, but the mystery was finally solved today as that person also happened to be online.

Here is how the conversation went. Names changed as I don't want bots to pick up email id's and send spam:

other_person: from manchester of south india www.mib.ac.uk
other_person: hi karthik
long since i mailed u
me: Hi, I am sorry, but I have been seeing your messages, but not able to place you at all.
other_person: i didnt get birmingham....but am heading to manchester for phd...
me: I think this is a case of mistaken identity.
other_person: am ur junior at anna
remember i mailed u regarding birmingham
me: oh, no. This really is a case of mistaken identity. I am not the Karthik you think I am.
other_person: oh...sorry
me: I have heard that google mail does not distinguish email ids that have a .(dot) in them. I think this is the reason.
other_person: hmm.... anyways sorry
me: sorry too. Perhaps you should alert you friend. I wonder how many emails I am missing.
All the best and have a nice day.
other_person: ya....sure....nice time
me: Thanks.
Sent at 2:38 PM on Saturday

If this thing about google not respecting dots in email ids is true, then it is a lousy way to implement their much hyped email service.

This seems less serious, however, than the phone calls I have been receiving from a certain Indian bank saying a person with my name had placed a request for home loans. I wonder where that's going to end.