The U.S. stock market holds enormous appeal for investors and speculators around the world due to its efficiency, size, liquidity and depth. However, many individuals are unable to access this market through official channels because of legal restrictions related to nationality and residency. Seizing on this demand, various organizations and individuals have found ways to “circumvent the law” to offer related services—activities that carry significant risks. Unregulated means, no protection In Vietnam today, people can easily access a wide range of international stock trading platforms. These platforms actively promote their services on social media and sometimes operate under multi-level marketing (MLM) models. One common feature: none of these platforms are licensed to provide investment services in Vietnam. The licenses they present (if any) typically originate from loosely regulated jurisdictions—often tax havens such as small Pacific islands. Client asset custody is either nonexistent or ambiguous. Since these platforms are not registered or licensed in Vietnam, users are left with no legal recourse if one day they find themselves locked out of their accounts. Worse still, in some cases, after access is denied or accounts are frozen, sophisticated scam networks—posing as customer support—lure victims into even more elaborate traps. Clinging to the..