Merchant Negative List

Prohibited Merchant Categories and Activities

Merchants engaged in the following categories or activities are prohibited:

1. Illegal Businesses: Any merchant category banned under central or state laws or any other applicable regulations, including products/services not in compliance with federal, state, local, or international laws (including Indian laws).

2. Unregulated or Unauthorized Businesses: Activities not specifically permitted by regulators or competent authorities, such as lotteries, casinos, nightclubs, gambling, and betting.

3. Adult Content and Services: Activities involving adult goods, pornography (including child pornography), sexually suggestive materials, escort or prostitution services, or any related memberships or website access.

4. Unregulated Financial Products: Includes businesses dealing in unregulated asset classes such as cryptocurrency.

5. Copyright Infringement:

   • Devices used to bypass copyright protection (e.g., mod chips).

   • Unauthorized copies of media (books, music, movies).

   • Unauthorized software or video games (including OEM or bundled versions).

6. Bribery or Corruption: Any activity identified as bribery or corruption by the RBI or under applicable law.

7. Body Parts: Sale of human organs or other body parts.

8. Bulk Marketing Tools: Email lists, database providers, telemarketing tools, or other products that enable spam or violate TRAI regulations.

9. Cable Descramblers and Black Boxes: Devices used to unlawfully access cable or satellite signals.

10. Counterfeit and Unauthorized Goods: Fake designer items, autographs, stamps, or celebrity-endorsed products without proper rights.

11. Drugs and Paraphernalia: Includes illegal drugs, accessories, and herbal substances like marijuana, salvia, etc.

12. Drug Test Circumvention Aids: Items like cleansing shakes or urine additives designed to manipulate drug tests.

13. Endangered Species: Sale of plants, animals, or products derived from endangered species.

14. Gambling: Lotteries, sports betting, gambling memberships, or related content.

15. Government Documents: Fake IDs, passports, diplomas, and noble titles.

16. Hacking and Cracking Tools: Manuals or equipment to enable illegal access to digital properties.

17. Illegal Goods: Any material or product promoting or enabling illegal acts.

18. Miracle Cures: Unproven health remedies marketed as quick fixes.

19. Offensive Materials: Defamatory, discriminatory, hateful, or violence-inciting content.

20. Hazardous Materials: Explosives, corrosives, flammable or radioactive substances.

21. Regulated Goods: Items like air bags, mercury batteries, freon products, solvents, government uniforms, weapons, police gear, lock-picking tools, pesticides, and slot machines.

22. Tobacco Products: Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and related items.

23. Live Animals and Animal Parts: Including hides, skins, teeth, nails, etc.

24. Multi-Level Marketing Fees: Fees related to MLM, pyramid schemes, or get-rich-quick programs.

25. Matrix Schemes: Sites using matrix or tier-based models.

26. Work-at-Home Programs: Including informational or promotional material.

27. Drop-shipped Merchandise: Items not held in inventory or fulfilled by the merchant.

28. Chargeback-Prone Services: Services likely to result in disputes (e.g., adult content, friend finders).

29. Ambiguously Regulated Businesses: Operations within legal gray areas.

30. Virtual Currency & Credits: Including cryptocurrencies, monetizable game credits, and other convertible digital assets.

31. Money Laundering: Services facilitating illegal financial transactions.

32. Bidding/Auction Houses: Any business model relying on user bids or auctions.

33. Money Changers and Transfer Agents: Unless authorized by the RBI.

34. Domestic Money Transfers: Except those performed by authorized bank agents under RBI regulations.

35. Offshore Corporations: Entities registered outside India and not compliant with Indian laws.

36. Crowdsourcing Platforms: Platforms not compliant with regulatory frameworks.

37. Others: Any product or service that, in the sole opinion of the Bank or payment gateway provider, is detrimental to their image, interests, or reputation. This is in addition to other applicable terms and conditions.