Buying or selling copper cable and scrap metal without checking where it came from
Collecting or buying copper, cable, manhole covers or rail parts and selling them to scrapyards that do not ask where it came from.
Why we advise against it
Cable and infrastructure theft is a serious crime, and scrap dealers must be registered and record every seller under the Second-Hand Goods Act. Collecting cans, bottles and household scrap to sell to a registered recycler is legal; see the recycling paths instead.
Before you put in money or time
- Be wary of paying to start, to "unlock" earnings or to upgrade a level. Real employers and clients pay you.
- Check that it actually works for people in South Africa, and how you would be paid.
- Never share a one-time PIN (OTP), your banking login or a photo of your ID.
- Anything that takes your money to invest or trade must be authorised by the FSCA. Check the FSCA register first.
- If you earn mainly by recruiting people, it may be an illegal pyramid or multiplication scheme under section 43 of the Consumer Protection Act.
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Questions people ask
Is buying or selling copper cable and scrap metal without checking where it came from a good way to earn in South Africa?
Cable and infrastructure theft is a serious crime, and scrap dealers must be registered and record every seller under the Second-Hand Goods Act. Collecting cans, bottles and household scrap to sell to a registered recycler is legal; see the recycling paths instead.
How do I check an offer like this?
Never pay a joining or activation fee, never share an OTP, and check investment offers on the FSCA register. Our free scam checker shows which known warning signs an offer matches.
Sources (3)
Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy · every option we have researched