The directors, Steffan Smart, 32, of Hounslow, and brothers Arkin Almaajoun, 29, and Ali Almaajoun, 31, both of Coulsdon, ran The Gas Board Ltd in Croydon and targeted vulnerable people across the UK with false promises of boiler repair cover.
The investigation was led by Croydon Council’s trading standards team after receiving numerous complaints from the public.
The Gas Board Ltd used a misleading business name to imply the callers were from British Gas, which they were not.
The directors were aware that the company name was causing confusion but continued to use it, targeting people over the age of 65 for financial gain.
Most customers did not receive the boiler repair cover they paid for and only realised they had been misled when money left their accounts.
All three directors pleaded guilty to consumer protection offences.
On August 29, 2025, Steffan Smart and Arkin Almaajoun were each sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
They were also given Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) banning them indefinitely from making direct sales to consumers, ordered to complete 140 hours of unpaid work, and told to pay £15,000 each towards prosecution costs.
Ali Almaajoun received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with a 10-year CBO preventing him from making direct sales to consumers.
He was also ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay £9,000 in prosecution costs.
Jason Perry, executive mayor for Croydon, said: “This is another great result for our trading standards team, prosecuting a gang who deceived many older people throughout the country.
“Huge thanks go to the National Trading Standards Tri Region Investigations Team, who were crucial in supporting us during this case.
“Anyone running a business in Croydon needs to do so lawfully and should be aware that if they break the law, we have some of the best trading standards officers in the public sector who work tirelessly to protect consumers.”
His Honour Judge Gower KC said: “Customers were misled by what they were told.
“It is quite clear to me that the three of you were set on obtaining as much money as you could and were completely unscrupulous in the way you went about doing so.”
The judge also praised the investigation team for their work on the case.
Anyone wishing to report a trader to Trading Standards can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Line on 0808 223 1133.
