Re: This has happened to me for years
I use the dot in my Gmail address. Say I'm signing up to a website, I might use j.oebloggs@gmail instead of joebloggs. If that website passes on my address and results in spoof mail, I can more easily block it. It's handy because not everyone site accepts a plus sign in the email field so I can't always use joebloggs+netflicks@gmail.com