Maybe I'm on the wrong trail here, but might this have something to do with the transition of AppleID/MobileMe -> iCloud?
If this email was (a) an Apple ID, or, more likely in this case, (b) an email address associated with an old Apple ID (that wasn't already in the form of a@b.c) then Apple could have just converted it to their new form of "every apple id should be in email address form", which I've noticed has been pushed far more with the transition to iCloud.
Though what throws me off is "Welcome to the Apple Online Store". Very specific. Too specific.
Has this email been used for purchases from Apple, at the very least?
If this email was (a) an Apple ID, or, more likely in this case, (b) an email address associated with an old Apple ID (that wasn't already in the form of a@b.c) then Apple could have just converted it to their new form of "every apple id should be in email address form", which I've noticed has been pushed far more with the transition to iCloud.
Though what throws me off is "Welcome to the Apple Online Store". Very specific. Too specific.
Has this email been used for purchases from Apple, at the very least?