I believe the correct answer is: moral panic.
Moral panic is the term used to describe an instance of
public anxiety or alarm in response to a problem which occurs when large
numbers of people become concerned, fearful, about some behavior that they
believe threatens the morality of their society. Moral panic is often fuelled
by rumors and can be dangerous when is over the proportions.
Therefore, the fear that some evil threatens the well-being
of society grips a large number of people is moral panic. Moral panic is
usually followed by hostility, and sometimes violence, is then directed toward
those thought to be responsible.
