Back to Legal

Prohibited and Restricted Products

Last updated: December 18, 2025
Version 2.0

Quick Reference Guide

Completely Prohibited

  • Illegal drugs and paraphernalia
  • Adult content and services
  • Firearms and weapons
  • Tobacco products
  • Unlicensed gambling
  • Unregulated cryptocurrency
  • Counterfeit goods
  • Hate speech materials
  • Terrorist organizations

Restricted (Approval Required)

  • Nutraceuticals and supplements
  • Travel services
  • Subscription services
  • Crowdfunding platforms
  • Licensed financial services
  • Age-restricted products
  • Digital goods and software
  • High-value luxury items
  • Licensed pharmacies

High-Risk (Enhanced Monitoring)

  • E-cigarettes and vaping
  • CBD and hemp products
  • Ticket sales and resale
  • Online auctions
  • Credit repair services
  • Prepaid and gift cards
  • Virtual currencies

1. Overview

Oharapay maintains a list of prohibited and restricted products, services, and business types to comply with legal requirements, payment network rules, and our internal risk management policies.

This list is not exhaustive and may be updated from time to time. Merchants are responsible for ensuring their business and products comply with these requirements.

Violation of these restrictions may result in account suspension, termination of services, withholding of funds, or other actions as deemed necessary by Oharapay.

If you are unsure whether your business or products fall under these categories, please contact our compliance team at compliance@oharapay.com before registering.

2. Prohibited Products and Services

The following products, services, and business types are strictly prohibited and cannot be processed through Oharapay under any circumstances:

Illegal Goods and Services: Any products or services that are illegal under applicable law, including but not limited to illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, stolen goods, counterfeit items, and fraudulent schemes.

Adult Content and Services: Adult entertainment, pornography, escort services, prostitution, and any sexually explicit content or services.

Weapons and Explosives: Firearms, ammunition, explosives, certain knives, and other weapons prohibited by law. This includes parts and accessories for such items.

Tobacco Products: Cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes, vaping products, and tobacco accessories.

Gambling and Gaming: Online casinos, sports betting, lottery services, skill gaming, and other gambling activities (except where specifically licensed and approved).

Cryptocurrency Services: Cryptocurrency exchanges, ICOs (Initial Coin Offerings), cryptocurrency mining operations, and unregulated cryptocurrency trading platforms.

Get-Rich-Quick Schemes: Multi-level marketing schemes, pyramid schemes, ponzi schemes, matrix programs, and other 'get rich quick' opportunities.

Hate Speech and Discriminatory Content: Materials, products, or services that promote hate, violence, discrimination, or harassment based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics.

Counterfeit and Intellectual Property Violations: Counterfeit goods, unauthorized replicas, pirated software, movies, music, or any products that infringe on intellectual property rights.

Illegal Pharmaceuticals: Prescription medications without proper authorization, unapproved pharmaceutical products, and performance-enhancing drugs.

Money Laundering Services: Shell banks, unlicensed money service businesses, currency exchanges without proper licensing, and any services designed to facilitate money laundering.

Terrorist Organizations: Any products, services, or organizations associated with terrorism or that appear on designated terrorist lists.

3. Restricted Products and Services

The following products and services are restricted and may only be processed with prior approval from Oharapay and subject to additional due diligence:

Nutraceuticals and Supplements: Dietary supplements, vitamins, herbal products, weight loss products, and health supplements. Requires appropriate regulatory approvals and compliance documentation.

Travel Services: Airlines, travel agencies, timeshare sales, and vacation packages. Subject to enhanced monitoring due to higher chargeback risk.

Telemarketing and Direct Marketing: Outbound telemarketing, direct mail marketing, and similar services. Requires compliance with consumer protection laws.

Subscription Services: Recurring billing services, negative option billing, and free trial to paid conversion models. Must have clear disclosure and easy cancellation processes.

Crowdfunding and Fundraising: Charity fundraising, political campaigns, and crowdfunding platforms. Requires proper registration and compliance with fundraising regulations.

Financial Services: Forex trading, binary options, CFDs (Contracts for Difference), investment advisory services, and debt collection. Requires appropriate licensing.

Age-Restricted Products: Alcohol, certain types of knives, mature-rated video games, and other age-restricted items. Requires age verification mechanisms.

Online Dating Services: Dating websites and apps. Subject to enhanced fraud monitoring and require clear terms of service.

Digital Goods: Software, e-books, online courses, and digital downloads. May require additional fraud prevention measures.

High-Value Items: Jewelry, luxury goods, precious metals, and items over €10,000. Subject to enhanced due diligence and transaction monitoring.

Drop Shipping: Retail businesses that use drop shipping models. Requires clear disclosure to customers and proper supplier agreements.

Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices: Licensed pharmacies and medical device sales. Requires appropriate licenses, regulatory approvals, and compliance documentation.

4. High-Risk Business Categories

The following business types are considered high-risk and are subject to enhanced monitoring, higher fees, or additional security requirements:

E-cigarettes and Vaping: Electronic cigarette and vaping product sales (where legal) require age verification and compliance with local regulations.

CBD and Hemp Products: CBD oil, hemp-derived products, and related items (where legal). Requires certificates of analysis and compliance with THC limits.

Ticket Sales: Event tickets, concert tickets, and ticket resale. Subject to anti-scalping laws and require clear refund policies.

Auctions: Online auction platforms and services. Requires proper buyer/seller verification and dispute resolution processes.

Credit Repair and Debt Services: Credit repair services, debt consolidation, and similar financial services. Requires appropriate licensing and compliance with consumer protection laws.

Prepaid and Gift Cards: Sale of prepaid cards, gift cards, and stored value products. Subject to money laundering prevention requirements.

Virtual Currencies and In-Game Items: Sale of virtual currencies, in-game items, and digital assets. Requires proper terms of service and fraud prevention measures.

5. Geographic Restrictions

Oharapay does not process transactions from or to certain countries and territories due to legal, regulatory, or risk considerations:

Sanctioned Countries: We do not support businesses or transactions from countries subject to comprehensive economic sanctions, including but not limited to: North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and certain regions of Ukraine.

High-Risk Jurisdictions: Certain jurisdictions identified as high-risk for money laundering or terrorist financing may be restricted or subject to enhanced due diligence.

Our supported countries list is available on our website and may be updated based on regulatory changes and risk assessments.

Merchants must not use Oharapay services to transact with individuals or entities located in prohibited jurisdictions.

6. Approval Process for Restricted Products

If your business deals with restricted products or services, you must obtain prior approval from Oharapay before processing transactions:

Application: Submit a detailed application including your business model, products/services offered, regulatory licenses, and compliance procedures.

Documentation: Provide all required documentation, including business licenses, industry-specific permits, regulatory approvals, and compliance certifications.

Due Diligence: Our compliance team will conduct enhanced due diligence, which may include background checks, reference verification, and review of your business operations.

Risk Assessment: We will assess the risk profile of your business and determine appropriate risk mitigation measures.

Approval Decision: You will receive a written approval or denial within 10-15 business days. Approval may be subject to conditions, enhanced monitoring, or additional security requirements.

Ongoing Compliance: Approved merchants must maintain ongoing compliance with all requirements and provide periodic updates on their business operations.

7. Merchant Responsibilities

Merchants using Oharapay services are responsible for:

Accurate Disclosure: Providing accurate and complete information about your business, products, and services during registration and throughout the term of service.

Compliance Monitoring: Continuously monitoring and ensuring compliance with this list and all applicable laws and regulations.

Product Changes: Notifying Oharapay immediately if you add new products, services, or business lines that may be prohibited or restricted.

Customer Screening: Implementing appropriate customer screening procedures to prevent prohibited transactions.

Recordkeeping: Maintaining accurate records of all transactions, including customer information, product details, and relevant documentation.

Cooperation: Cooperating fully with Oharapay's compliance investigations and providing requested information promptly.

Updates: Staying informed about updates to this list by regularly reviewing our website and reading notifications from Oharapay.

8. Consequences of Violations

Violations of these prohibited and restricted product policies may result in:

Immediate Account Suspension: Your account may be suspended immediately upon detection of prohibited products or services.

Termination of Services: We reserve the right to terminate your account and cease providing services.

Fund Holds: We may place holds on funds in your account pending investigation or to cover potential chargebacks and refunds.

Fund Seizure: In cases involving illegal activity, funds may be seized and reported to appropriate authorities.

Legal Action: We may report violations to law enforcement, regulatory authorities, or payment networks as required by law.

Liability: You may be held liable for any losses, damages, fines, or penalties incurred by Oharapay as a result of your violations.

Industry Reporting: Violations may be reported to industry databases, affecting your ability to obtain payment processing services in the future.

9. Reporting Violations

If you become aware of a merchant or transaction that violates these prohibited product policies, please report it to us:

Email: compliance@oharapay.com

Subject Line: "Prohibited Product Report"

Include: Merchant name, transaction details, description of the violation, and any supporting evidence.

We take all reports seriously and will investigate promptly. Your report will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Oharapay maintains a zero-tolerance policy for prohibited products and services, and we appreciate your assistance in maintaining the integrity of our platform.

10. Updates to This List

This list of prohibited and restricted products is subject to change based on:

Regulatory Changes: Updates to laws, regulations, or payment network rules.

Risk Assessment: Changes in our risk assessment of certain products or business types.

Industry Standards: Evolving industry best practices and standards.

Business Decisions: Strategic business decisions by Oharapay.

Merchants will be notified of material changes to this list via email and updates on our website. Continued use of our services after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated policies.

We recommend reviewing this page regularly to stay informed about current restrictions.

11. Contact Information

For questions about prohibited or restricted products, or to request approval for restricted products, please contact:

Compliance Department

Oharapay Limited

Grand Canal Square

Dublin 2, Ireland

Email: compliance@oharapay.com

Phone: +353 1 234 5678

Our compliance team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM GMT.

Need approval for restricted products?

Contact our compliance team to discuss your business and request approval for restricted products or services.