“We have filed a police report on the illegal hijacking of our staffer's cell-phone and have retained a cyber-crime forensic investigator,” the release stated. “We are relatively certain who is behind it because they left a trail a mile wide and are just gathering the remaining evidence.”

Matlock's company, Matlock Tire Service & Auto Repair, began getting targeted last year after he announced his candidacy for the seat U.S. Rep. John J. "Jimmy" Duncan Jr. is vacating, campaign spokesman Greg Butcher said. 

The campaign's website has had increased hacking attempts this week, he said.

“At this point, none of the hacks on our website have been successful,” Butcher said. “I know Jimmy’s business has had to spend several thousands of dollars to upgrade their security and have had to shut down their servers a couple of times.”

Butcher said the attacks are "part of the territory" in a political season.

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, who's also running for the soon-to-be-open seat, was a victim of a spoofed call in January. The number was routed from the Farragut Press and slammed the mayor. 

When contacted about the hacking, all of the GOP candidates declined any knowledge. Besides Matlock and Burchett, Jason Emert, Vito Sagliano, Ashley Nickloes, Marc Whitmire and Hank Hamblin are running as Republicans.