It's more a case of we know what they know. Low volume trading makes for easier pickings.

Any shareholder who participates need to have their head examined. 9% interest for the right to use your shares to drive the price down is a fool's game. Based on recent action that 9% might be lost in less than a weeks' worth of short trading. 

It's unseemly for an investment firm that supposedly looks out for its customers to promote such a program, knowing the risks to the clients, but seeing a potential profit for themselves.