A Reddit user, under the username pemungkah, has shared how they took revenge on an Australian Netflix subscriber who had been repeatedly misusing their Gmail address. The issue began when the Netflix user signed up with a slight variation of the Redditor’s email.
The Email Mix-Up
The problem stems from Gmail’s feature of ignoring periods in email addresses. This means that addresses like johndoe@gmail website and john.doe@gmail website are treated as the same. The Australian Netflix user unknowingly signed up using the period-less version of the Redditor’s address.
Initially, the Redditor ignored the mistake but grew frustrated after receiving unsolicited email confirmations for purchases and subscriptions, including one for Netflix. The Redditor decided to take action and accessed the Netflix account.
Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands
The Reddit user used a VPN to log in to the Australian Netflix account, changed the password, closed the account, and disconnected the device linked to it. They hoped the inconvenience would teach the subscriber a lesson.
When Netflix inquired about why the account was closed, the Redditor responded: “This account was opened using my email without my permission and f*** this guy.”
A Common Problem
In a follow-up message to Newsweek, pemungkah revealed that they had received multiple password reset attempts for the account. The Redditor speculated that the Australian user might not fully understand how email addresses work, thinking that Google would redirect the password reset emails to the correct inbox.
The Redditor admitted they were surprised their post gained so much attention. They also reflected on their choice to use their real name in their email address. “It was a terrible idea,” they said. “If I had registered a domain, I would’ve avoided this issue.”
Netflix’s Strict Password-Sharing Policies
Netflix has enforced stricter password-sharing rules since 2023. Under the new policy, users must designate a primary location, and access from outside that location may be blocked unless an extra fee is paid for additional members. The policy aims to ensure that only paying users access the service.
Netflix uses various methods like IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity to detect and block unauthorized access.
Shared Experiences
Many Redditors shared similar frustrations. One user revealed they often received emails meant for a woman with a Yahoo email address. Another user shared how a doppelganger from New Jersey kept using their Gmail account to make expensive restaurant reservations. Some even recounted how they changed the settings on dating apps of strangers or canceled tee-times as a way to deal with the problem.
