The hackers stole $ 2,3 million from the Wisconsin Republican Party account that was used to help re-elect President Donald Trump, party leader Andrew Hitt told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The party spotted suspicious activity on Oct. 22 and contacted the FBI on Friday, Republican President Andrew Hitt said.
Hitt said that FBI investigates the case. FBI spokesman Brett Banner said that according to the policy, "the FBI is not allowed to confirm or deny a research». The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which has a center that focuses on attacks on cyberspace who is able to provide his services if asked for help and so far has not been called upon to investigate the condition, said Rebecca Ballweg's spokeswoman.
The alleged hack was discovered less than two weeks before their Day Elections, as Trump and his opponent Jon Biden made their final effort to conquer the world of Winsonsin. Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 with less than 23.000 votes and is planning his third visit for today. Biden will also pay a visit to Wisconsin today. Polls have shown that race was chest to chest and usually Biden is in front with very little difference.
Campaigners in Wisconsin learned of the alleged breach from media reports and were outraged that government officials employees did not inform them about how it might affect them.
However, its director strategy for Trump's campaign, Nick Trainer, said that representatives of the national campaign were informed immediately. "I personally received a phone call alerting me as a senior stem for the campaign, "he said.
There were more than 800 financially motivated phishing attacks aimed at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, but none were successful, said party spokeswoman Courtney Beyer.
The alleged hack is "definitely annoying" for Republicans, said Matt Rothschild, leader of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, an independent group that monitors donations and campaign spending.
Hitt stressed that the stolen money was intended for services that have already been provided. Hitt said the hackers changed them data of four vendor bills paid for direct mail they sent to re-elect Trump, as well as pro-Trump material, such as hats distributed to supporters. The invoices and other documents they changed, so when the party paid for them, the money went to the hackers instead of the sellers, Hitt said.
It was discovered after someone noticed the difference in an invoice, he said. Hitt said it appears that attack started as an attempt phishing (phishing) and do not appear to have been stolen data, said party spokesman Alec Zimmerman.
The money had been stolen by the federal account of the state party, which currently contains about $ 1,1 million, but that number is changing daily due to the rapid campaign, said Zimmerman. Campaign finance reports filed this week in Wisconsin show Democrats have amassed much more money by Republicans. The state Democratic Party has raised nearly $ 59 million in the past two years, compared to just $ 23,7 million for Republicans.
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