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> Please also add logic to remove the dot from the email address when matching against your DB.

This is the wrong approach. It's not like this isn't a solved problem.

1. Ask for email.

2. Send confirmation email with a one-time link

3. Do nothing but show a "not yet confirmed, resend?" message until confirmation link has been followed.

I have to disagree, for most other email providers, this would work, however gmail this is a unique issue. Since gmail doesn't consider a dot, then by all accounts it shouldn't be considered on the application/site side as well.

Checking would short-circuit this, and simply not allow a signup at all.

If the app/site requires a user to click a verification link before using an email address, how the mail provider handles the local part is irrelevant.

The user can either access the email because they used an address they "own" or they can't.

It also solves a whole bunch of other issues all at once (typos, unsolicited signups, etc).

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