They fell for it, then?
The human race is a gullible lot overall ... (or at least it consists of a large number of gullible individuals) -
- and those without a true grasp of the situation can be talked into panic (and worse) by a media which must constantly work to fill it's airtime. Some of those capable of being talked into panic include those calling themselves our 'law makers' (i.e., those who make up 'our government').
So, in effect, the answer to your question is yes - although this was not the circuitous route by which you expected the answer to your question to be answered in the afirmative ...