Outlook ‘=SMTP:name@company.com’

Here’s the scenario:

Using: Outlook 2002 & Exchange 2000
User is composing/replying/forwarding an email message. In the To box, he types in the full email address in the format name@company.com and then hits Send. The receipient(s) call him back saying they never got it. He looks into his Sent Items folder and finds that the email he sent has the following in the To box: ‘=SMTP:name@company.com’ which didn’t have this format when he sent it. Any ideas?