最近华人微信朋友圈流传一则“假消息”，称有“内政部官员上门索要身份证件”，引起大家不安。然而此消息为谣传，此前已作辟谣。
这则在华人微信群中被广泛传播的虚假安全警告信息内容如下：
“Security Alert: Be warned, there is a group going to homes andpretending to be officials from home affairs. They have documents with theletterhead Department of Home Affairs and claim to be confirming that everyonehas a valid ID for the upcoming elections. They are robbing homes. Take notethere is no initiative like that from the government. Send this on yourneighborhood group chat. They are everywhere and they look presentable.
安全警告：请当心，有一群人逐家逐户拍门，假装是内政部(Deparment of Home Affairs)官员。他们持有内政部信笺的文件，并声称要确认每个人都有一个有效的身份证件，为即将举行的选举预备。他们其实是入屋打劫。注意，政府没有没有这个行动。请转发到您的邻居，朋友群聊。这些人无处不在，看起来大方得体。”
然而经过调查，此虚假安全警告早在2016年便在南非传播，此后便在互联网和社交媒体上盛传。
针对这则谣言，新州警察局曾官方回复，证实其为虚假警告：
ST. GEORGE POLICE RESPONSE TO RECENT FALSE SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITYALERT
Recent information was published on Chinese social media Wechat about a group of people visiting homes and pretending to be officials from home affairs. The information claims that these persons have documents containing the letterhead of the Department of Home Affairs and are requesting ID documentation from residents to confirm they reside in the area for the upcoming elections. Whilst the resident is obtaining their ID leaving the door unattended, the persons involved are taking the opportunity to enter and steal from the premises.
There have been no reports to Police of these types of incidents in the St. George/Hurstville area. It is believed that the information circulating on social media is not correct and the author is not known.
As is always the case, should any members of the public receive information that appears doubtful, notice anyone or anything that appears out of place or suspicious, please contact your local Police Station for assistance.
For residents of St George Police Area Command, please contact Kogarah Police Station on 8566 7499 or Hurstville Police Station 9375 8599.
微信给华人的日常生活带来不少的便利，却也因其便捷和强大的社交功能，有时会被别有用心的人利用，成为悉尼华人社区各类谣言和骗局的发源地和传播的温床，也导致某些华人一不小心而上当受骗。
为避免不必要的担心和惶恐，希望大家下次遇到类似的情况，在善意提醒提醒家人朋友而转发传播消息之前，先冷静思索一下消息的真实性和可靠性，然后通过真实的官方渠道验证。