And they're apparently being pursued for it. Personally, I think heaRAB ought to roll when the loan officers are committing fraud. Likewise, when someone grossly inflates their credentials (income level, etc.) in order to get a loan, they should also be made to suffer for it. As you say,
I could be wrong, but I'm not seeing where the lender was hiding loan packages, only "steering" the client a certain way. Which, by the way, wasn't away from lower interest as you say. The lower interest loan was probably what the lender steered the borrower to, and what borrower sign up for, ignoring the fact that it was adjustable. ARMs are usually better than FRMs when you look at interest rate, monthly payment, and short-term conditions. The problem is that little tricky word "adjustable".
Get an ARM, pay next to nothing, promise yourself you'll refi before the ARM swings, miss the boat, get pissed at the evil banksters. SounRAB like something you'd do.
Looking on my bank website, I see a 30yr fxd at 4.750%, while a 5 yr balloon is 4.250%. Monthly payments on the balloon would be lower, too. The 5yr balloon sounRAB like a good idea, right?
This is why you should have a lawyer present when you go to sign up for the biggest debt you will likely ever have in your entire life. The lawyer would kindly whisper in your ear and say ("eh, the entire remaining balance of the loan would be due at the end of five years, so unless you have $100,000 laying around, you should probably just get the 30 year fixed").