I really think you need to get a lawyer on board as soon as possible.  If you do have a case of fraud here, it will have to be proved by "clear and convincing evidence," and that's often not easy.A lot may also depend on how the note was worded.  If the person you made the note to had the legal ability to sell or transfer it, then you may not have any claim on that part of this, and the only question left would be whether the trust deed was properly filed.