A Selma family is warning others of an ongoing scam after falling victim to the hoax.

Recently, Westwood Drive resident Berner Sheperd had problems with a water pump on his well and went to an advertisement in a local publication for help.

After calling the number in the advertisement, a series of payments began to change hands under suspicious circumstances, Sheperd’s daughter Deb Smith said.

“When he called the gentleman, he came out there and told him he worked for cash only,” he said. “He said he could fix the pump and started off needing $30 to get some type of pressure switch and then he needed $100 to get some other stuff. It ended up being $930 in cash.”

Each time the man called, Smith said he asked for more and more money to complete the project. After collecting even more money, the man told the Sheperds his friend had the pump and he needed to run to another section of town to pick up the part.

Smith said he never returned.

Sheperd’s wife Patsy called the man, who said he would return at 6 a.m., then 8 a.m. the next morning because of wet weather. Again, he never came back.

Finally, Smith said Patsy called the man, who only supplied excuses for not returning. A frustrated Patsy then told the man they were no longer interested in his services and to return the money.

“He failed to return any money and failed to come back,” Smith said. “He told them he does not make refunds.”

The Sheperds have filed police reports, but because they dealt in cash it is very difficult for law enforcement offices to build a case.

Berner, who turned 82 Feb. 3 and bags groceries part time at Winn Dixie to supplement his income, and the Sheperd family are warning others to beware of additional scams that request cash-only payments.

Smith said the man has a reputation around town as a scam artist.

“The guy was a fast talker,” she said. “What he did to them is just not right.”

The Better Business Bureau recently released a list of some of the most reported scams of the past year. Home repair scams were among the top 10.

The release said BBBs across America received complaints from consumers who hired home repair services who never delivered on their services.

According to the BBB, reports increased 40 percent from 2009 to 2010.

Consumers victimized by a scam can contact their local BBB or file a complaint at bbb.org.

The BBB also warns against businesses who claim to deal in cash-only transactions.