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NSW Fair Trading has cancelled a strata agent’s licence after allegedly converting millions from strata funds across hundreds of fraudulent transactions.
Former Coffs Harbour strata manager Jessica Marrie Carah has been permanently banned from the strata and property industries by NSW Fair Trading after allegedly converting strata funds into her personal account.
NSW Fair Trading investigators alleged that Carah performed almost 400 fraudulent transactions across 66 separate strata schemes between February and December 2024, totalling $2 million.
It is alleged that Carah converted over $200,000 from one strata scheme, whilst also transacting more than $100,000 from several others.
As a result of Fair Trading’s findings, the regulator found that Carah acted unlawfully, improperly, unfairly, or incompetently.
The watchdog elected to cancel her licence in December 2025, while her employment with SMS Community & Strata Specialists ceased at the end of January 2025.
Carah’s disqualification appears on Fair Trading’s new “Name and Shame” register, alongside other property professionals sanctioned across the state.
Fair Trading commissioner and acting Strata and Property Services commissioner Natasha Mann said Carah's misconduct cannot be allowed to stand in the property industry.
“This case is disturbing,” Mann said.
“NSW Fair Trading is ensuring people like this are removed from the industry so that consumers are protected.”
The watchdog said it has been coordinating with other government agencies on ongoing investigations, while claims from affected strata plan accounts are being reimbursed or processed through insurance.
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said the misuse of trust account funds was a point of focus of the government’s newly established Strata and Property Services Taskforce.
“Enforcement action like this is a crucial part of the Government’s work to lift standards, boost consumer confidence and restore trust in the strata sector.”
“Under regulations, a strata manager must hold separate trust accounts for an owners corporation and those funds must only be used as the client directs.”
“With our recently established Strata and Property Services Taskforce targeting misconduct by strata managers, licensees in charge will be held accountable for meeting their obligations to review and approve all transactions from the trust,” Chanthivong concluded.
You might also be interested in: New ‘Name and Shame’ list puts NSW shady agents under the spotlight
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mathew Williams
Born in the rural town of Griffith NSW, Mathew Williams is a graduate journalist who has always had a passion for storytelling. Having graduated from the University of Canberra with a Bachelor of Sports Media in 2023, Mathew recently made the move to Sydney from Canberra to pursue a career in journalism and has joined the Momentum Media team, writing for their real estate brands. Outside of journalism, Mathew is an avid fan of all things sports and regularly attends sporting events across Sydney. Get in touch at
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