A California college student is accused of sending a photo of herself bound and gagged to her parents so she could scam them for ransom money.

Yimei Wang, 20, was arrested Wednesday in Pasadena for reportedly conning her parents into sending her $85,000, according to the Pasadena Star News.

Police said the ArtCenter College of Design student told her family that she was safe but needed them to pay ransom. She then reportedly sent a photo of herself tied up in a hotel room.

Wang’s dad, who lives in China, sent the ransom money while her mother called police to report their daughter was kidnapped.

Authorities tracked her down early Wednesday at a Pasadena hotel where they found her unharmed and alone, according to officials.

“She admitted she took the picture in order to extort the family,” Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema told the newspaper. “It’s unclear why she needed the money.”

Wang was arrested and booked at Pasadena Police Department Jail on extortion charges. She was released after posting $30,000 bail.