Elias Pettersson reportedly defrauded and ripped off for $250,000

According to a report from Derek O'Brien of The Hockey News, Vancouver Canucks star Elias Pettersson was the victim of a fraudulent real estate scam that put him out nearly $250,000 USD.

Pettersson was reportedly set to buy a "luxury villa" in the Swedish town of Danderyd worth $26 million Swedish Crowns (Approx $2.4 million USD) and paid a 10% down payment of $240,000 USD to secure the home. However, it soon became clear to Pettersson and to his father Torbjörn Pettersson that the investment was a huge mistake.

“It turned out that the house had many flaws that needed to be fixed,” Elias’ father Torbjörn Pettersson told the Sundsvalls Tidning newspaper.

The Pettersson's sued the real estate broker responsible for the deal and were able to have the mortgage cancelled, but were unsuccessful in recouping their 10% down payment. With the broker now in prison on a six year sentence for fraud charges unrelated to the Pettersson case, it's unlikely that the Pettersson's will ever recoup their money.

“The money’s gone – just forget about it and move on,” the elder Pettersson said.

With an annual salary of $11.6 million this move isn't likely to cause Elias any real financial hardship, but to be ripped off for nearly a quarter of a million dollars has to mess with you, regardless. You also have to wonder if having this case hanging over his head the past two years may have played a factor in Pettersson's contract negotiations with the Canucks last season. All of this is just speculation, of course, but you can't deny the fact that Pettersson simply hasn't looked like himself this season and for the better part of last season, as well.