Seductive salesmen persuaded people that there was no downside to buying things they were unable to afford. This is not anything new in the annals of humanity. Those who knew fraud was being perpetrated need to be sought out and punished so severly as to preclude this happening again. I do not imply a fine and short prison sentence but rather total impoverishment of the salesmen and their families for several decades. The punishment should be so onerous as to gib=ve the larcenous souls great pause. The punisment can't be just fit to the thief. The proceeds and outcome of the theft affects the victims' families so let the punishment do the same for the thief's family.

I realize this sounds drastic but the cyclic nature of this sort of fiscal larceny indicates that it may be worth the risk for some people. Let the punishment be shared by the families involved. Let them all suffer. The thief's spouse children and parents must all suffer not just shame and temporary discomfort but truly grinding poverty.