Fortunately, something like this has not happened to me, much like what happened to Kumiko Tsuchida. Neither have I met anyone who told me a similar story. But I can say for the traveler's experience, that it is easy to get confused and lost. For example, if you travel to countries where you do not have maps on your GPS (such as Morocco), and the names of the few indicative signs that you can find, they are written differently from what you are really looking for (being the same town), the Confusion and error are guaranteed.
But, at the same time, it is still an adventure, from which you learn and enrich yourself at the same time. Thinking positive, visit places you did not have planned!