High Power Equipment Africa (Pty) Ltd – or HPE Africa – has warned of industry scammers using the company name to acquire equipment from various suppliers.

Says HPE Africa CEO Alan Grady: "Individuals claiming to be from HPE Africa have been using the name of our company to order stock. They send through a false proof of payment from an ABSA account that does not exist.

"Having had this happen to our company last year, where we were on the receiving end of a scam that cost us around R1.7 million, we feel duty bound to warn others in our industry so it doesn't happen to them."

Grady says businesses will not be able to recoup financial losses from the bank, as the banks aren't liable in this instance. "We would suggest companies make all their staff aware of the scam, and look out for the false 'proof of payment' slips."

The situation is currently under investigation.