Acceptable use
Sempo moves real money through real banks, and the partner that does that for us sets rules about who it will serve and what for. This page is those rules in plain words. The Terms of Service are the version you agreed to.
Why there are rules
The bank side of Sempo is provided by Align (see Bank transfers and Align), and Align will not open accounts for, or process transactions linked to, certain places and certain activities. Because every bank transfer through Sempo goes through Align, those limits are Sempo’s limits too. They apply to you, to anybody who owns or controls an account with you, and to the people you transact with.
Where Sempo is not available
Sempo cannot open an account for anyone located in, incorporated in, or otherwise associated with these jurisdictions, and does not process transactions to or from them:
- Afghanistan
- Belarus
- Central African Republic
- Crimea
- Cuba
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Haiti
- Iran
- Myanmar
- North Korea
- Puerto Rico
- Russia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Yemen
What an account may not be used for
Money may not pass through Sempo for any of the following, whether you are the one paying or the one being paid:
- Anything unlawful where you are, where the money comes from, or where it goes — including money laundering, financing terrorism, evading sanctions, tax evasion and fraud.
- Weapons, ammunition and other military or war-related goods; explosives and hazardous materials; nuclear or atomic energy businesses and materials.
- Gambling, betting or wagering, and any service that enables it.
- Running a business that needs a licence without holding one, and shell banks or shell banking structures.
- Selling pirated music, films, software or other content, or goods and services that infringe a trademark, patent, copyright or trade secret; counterfeit goods, unauthorised resale of branded goods, and goods illegally imported or exported.
- Cannabis; tobacco and e-cigarettes; online pharmacies and cross-border pharmaceutical fulfilment; substances designed to mimic illegal drugs; equipment designed for making or using drugs; and other age-restricted goods sold without the required controls.
- Charities, non-profits and fundraising.
- Pornographic material and sexually oriented services.
- Investments marketed as offering guaranteed, fixed or unusually high returns; pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing; and products sold on unapproved medical or health claims.
- Publishing arrest photographs for extortion or reputational harm.
- Reselling a service without adding anything to it, deceptive or predatory consumer models, and aggregating or passing through other people’s funds so as to obscure where they came from — including any unlicensed money transmission on behalf of others.
- Organisations that promote unlawful violence, or hatred against people on the basis of who they are.
What happens if a rule is broken
A transaction linked to a prohibited use may be held for review, refused, or returned. While one is under review, Sempo can only tell you that it is under review, not why, and not how long it will take. An account used for a prohibited purpose may be limited or closed; a balance you hold is still yours, and we will tell you how to move it out. The full terms are in the Terms of Service.