SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - An eighth grader at Pride Academy in Santee had his phone snatched away from him, but only long enough to have "ransomware" installed on the phone, a device that may have also stolen personal information.
Jonathan Haynes said he was walking home alone from school Monday afternoon when a man disguised in a Halloween mask approached and attacked him.
According to Haynes, the man was wearing a black hoodie over his blond hair and is about 6'5.
"He walked up to me, grabbed me by my backpack and threw me on the ground. It was only for like 30-seconds," said Haynes.
Haynes said the man grabbed his cell-phone and proceeded to plug some sort of square device resembling a USB into the phone's charging port. After unplugging the device, the suspect threw the phone on the lawn and ran off.
The unknown device installed a malware on the phone, including extremely graphic images and a threatening message requesting he pay $200 in iTunes cards.
Jonathan's mother immediately posted the incident online on East County Emergency Updates' Facebook page, stating how critical it is to get the word out.
Deputies told Jonathan's parents that the family's personal information may have been compromised.
Jonathan's family has since called all credit cards and changed the password to her PayPal account. She also said Jonathan will either be driven to and from school, or if he walks it will not be alone.