Members have shared their concerns and advice regarding an incident where a forum member's real name was discovered by an individual outside of their professional circle. The discussion revolves around the potential risks and preventive measures when personal information is inadvertently shared or exposed. Key points from the conversation include:
- Initial confusion and concern over how an individual obtained a member's real name, despite precautions to keep personal information private.
- Advice on confronting the individual to understand how the information was acquired and then proceeding to block them across all platforms.
- Speculation on whether the member's email address, which does not include their real name, could have been a source of the leak.
- Concerns raised about the possibility of information being leaked through Amazon wishlists and gift card exchanges, despite efforts to maintain privacy on personal social media and Amazon accounts.
- A useful tip was shared about the potential exposure of a first name and email address through Amazon's "thank you note" feature when redeeming gift cards. A recommendation was made to avoid sending these notes or to use a separate account for such activities.
- The importance of using entirely separate online identities for professional activities, including separate email addresses and possibly using a P.O. box for deliveries, was emphasized to further protect personal information.
This discussion highlights the importance of vigilance and the implementation of strict privacy measures to safeguard personal information in the digital age, especially for individuals in professions with high public exposure.