An 80-year-old Lawrence woman reported she was scammed out of a $7,033 by a person who alleged he was her grandson and needed the money for medical expenses in Spain.

The woman reported to Lawrence police Wednesday the theft occurred over a two-day period beginning April 13 when she received a call. The person claiming to be her grandson said he had suffered an accident in Spain and asked for money to be wired without notifying any other family members, said Sgt. Trent McKinley, a police spokesman.

McKinley said also during the calls a person claimed to be with the American embassy in Spain. McKinley said it was a common scam, and he said officers advise people to always check with other family members, their bank or even the police to verify information before wiring money overseas.

“These scams are complex, and so they can sound extremely convincing,” McKinley said. “But any one of a number of interactions will put a stop to things.”