The 59th Republican Ward’s phone number - 215-843-5900 - has been pirated and is being used for phone phlising to target senior citizens.  The Ward Committee got its first report from a senior citizen in Cumberland County on Friday, April 17th.  The phlishers are using the name “United Republicans” while the Ward Committee’s phone number comes up on automatic caller ID devises.  The Ward Committee is attempting to notify all police and law enforcement agencies of this illegal piracy of its phone number and to advise senior citizens in particular, not to make any contributions whatsoever.

“Phlishing” is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.  In a phone phlishing campaign, someone programs a pirated number to conceal the crook’s real idenity.   Because the Ward Committee is one of few local Republican committees that maintain a party headquarters, it is suspected that its phone number was pirated, instead of that of a county GOP headquarters.

The 59th Republican Ward Executive Committee is registered with Pennsylvania Department of State, but does not solicit any contributions over the phone.  The Ward Committee urges all victims or their families to notify the Attorney General’s office, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 14tj Floor, Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, PA 17120, phone 800-441-2555 or online at  http://attorneygeneral.gov/.