Sinister underbelly of Instagram-perfect paradise adored by Americans... where men prey on women in maze of unmarked alleys: 'I just started screaming'

Published: 19:47, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 19:49, 20 July 2026 It's a country that sells itself as a dream destination - sunbaked medinas, Instagram-perfect desert sunsets and ancient cities steeped in history.  But for a growing number of Western tourists, that dream is turning into a nightmare. Alex Zhang had just stepped off the plane in Marrakech, Morocco, when he was cornered by two men in a pitch-black alley, demanding money - and threatening him when he had none to give. The 28-year-old accounting manager from Toronto, a seasoned solo traveler, had arrived late at night for a whistle-stop three-day adventure in April through the labyrinthine streets of one of Africa's most famous cities.  Instead, he found himself trapped, unsure if the men closing in on him wanted his cash or something worse. 'I've been to plenty of sketchy places but this was the first time I actually thought: I am in danger,' Zhang told the Daily Mail. 'This was the worst experience I've had as a solo traveler.' He is far from alone. A growing number of Western visitors are coming forward with accounts of robberies, scams and intimidation in Morocco's tourist hotspots, from the winding alleys of Fez to Marrakech's ancient medina, as the country prepares to welcome millions as co-host of the 2030 World Cup. In April, Canada issued an updated travel advisory warning visitors of the risks of terrorism, petty crime, armed robbery, fraud and civil unrest. With its Instagram-perfect desert sunsets, Morocco has become a popular tourist destination for Westerners  Travel blogger and podcaster Erin Hynes, 36, from Toronto, was backpacking solo through Morocco in 2016 when she was sexually assaulted in Marrakech Nearly half a million Americans visited Morocco last year. The US State Department advises tourists to exercise increased caution, placing the country at level 2 due to terrorism and crime concerns in major tourist areas. Despite welcoming millions of visitors every year, Morocco publishes no detailed statistics on crimes against foreign tourists, making it impossible to say whether these cases are isolated incidents or symptoms of a wider problem. The fake-guide scam that ensnared Zhang is one of the most common dangers tourists face in Morocco.  The pattern is familiar: a stranger approaches, claims a road is closed or a landmark shut, then offers to lead bewildered tourists through the maze of unmarked alleys before steering them somewhere quiet, where demands for money begin to escalate. For Zhang, the harassment didn't end that night. The next day, he spotted the same man again, still demanding cash. When he refused, he says the man hurled an anti-gay slur at him and told him he wasn't welcome in the country. Zhang started carrying an umbrella everywhere he went as makeshift protection. 'I feel like you can have bad experiences anywhere,' said Zhang. 'I'll still travel solo, I just need to be a little bit smarter.' Women traveling alone have reported being subjected to leering and unwelcome sexual attention, and in some cases assault. Kate and Jeremy Storm, who write the Our Escape Clause travel blog, were menaced by a group of male assailants while attempting to visit the tanneries of Marrakech in 2016 The North Carolina-based couple soon encountered the coordinated group who claimed the streets ahead were 'closed' and forced them to pay a fee to pass Travel blogger and podcaster Erin Hynes, 36, also from Toronto, was backpacking solo through Morocco in 2016 when she was sexually assaulted in Marrakech. Hynes said she was walking back to her hostel one afternoon when she sensed someone following closely behind her. 'A boy, maybe 14 or 15 years old, ran at me, shoved me up against a wall and started grabbing me,' she said. 'I just started screaming until some local people came and intervened.' Back at her hostel, fellow travelers rallied around her, offering to accompany her everywhere for the rest of her stay in Marrakech. She never reported the assault to police. 'I was in shock and just wanted to put it behind me,' she said. 'I didn't feel anything would come of reporting it. I could barely describe him because I was so shaken.' Hynes said she had made a conscious effort to respect local customs, wearing loose-fitting clothing that covered her shoulders and legs. Cultural shifts in Morocco have been slower to follow the change in the laws in the country Despite the attack, she completed the trip and even returned to Morocco in 2023. 'The reality of being a woman is that something like this can happen anywhere,' she said. 'I didn't want one terrible experience to stop me from doing the things I wanted to do.' She said she also experienced persistent catcalling and unwanted attention from men during her time in Morocco. 'It's something you need to be aware of if you're traveling there. Unfortunately, it's a cultural norm.' Hynes noted that Morocco has introduced legal reforms aimed at protecting women from violence and harassment, but said attitudes take longer to change. Alex Zhang, a seasoned traveler from Toronto, said his scariest experience was being shaken down in Marrakech 'Cultural shifts are slower,' she said. 'As a tourist, you've chosen to be there, so it's not realistic to expect the same cultural norms as you have at home. It angers me, but I'm not going to let it define or ruin my experience.' While she advises solo female travelers to research their destination, stay alert and understand the risks, Hynes said she does not want her story to discourage others from visiting Morocco. 'I don't share this to scare people away,' she said. 'If Morocco is somewhere you want to go, don't let people talk you out of it.  'Just go in with your eyes open, understand the risks, and prepare yourself for the challenges you might face.' Others have documented similarly scary encounters. Kate and Jeremy Storm, who run the blog Our Escape Clause, were weeks into a round-the-world trip in 2016 when they set off to visit Marrakech's famous tanneries. The North Carolina-based couple soon encountered a group of men who claimed the streets ahead were 'closed'. They were then passed between a string of fake tour guides and tannery workers who pressured them into paying for a tour they had never asked for. 'The disconcerting part wasn't necessarily someone asking us for money. When you go traveling in Morocco that's a minute-by-minute experience, but the level of organization did catch us off guard,' Kate told the Daily Mail in an interview. Despite welcoming millions of visitors every year, Morocco publishes no detailed statistics on crimes against foreign tourists After reluctantly handing over an inflated fee of 200 dirham ($21), ten times the going rate, Kate said they were followed into a side street, where more money was demanded.  The men closed in on them and shoved Jeremy. Kate said she screamed until the group backed off long enough for them to flee into a taxi. After traveling to more than 50 countries, it remains their most harrowing experience on the road. Kate insisted that they had otherwise had an enjoyable visit to Morocco and plans to return one day with her children.  She urged visitors to book a guide through their riad, avoid walking alone near isolated tourist sites, and be wary of anyone offering unsolicited directions. Morocco's darkest tourism chapter came in December 2018, when Islamic State-inspired extremists murdered Scandinavian backpackers Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, of Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, of Norway, as they camped near the Atlas Mountains village of Imlil. Despite her sexual assault, Erin went back to Morocco in 2023. But she urges women to be cautious and travel with company Horrific video footage which showed the women being beheaded was posted online and authenticated by Danish and Norwegian authorities. The killings shocked the country and triggered one of Morocco's biggest anti-terror investigations. Twenty men linked to the cell were arrested; three ringleaders were sentenced to death and remain on death row, while others received lengthy prison terms. For Moroccan officials, tourist safety isn't just a law-and-order issue - it's an economic one.  The kingdom has built its reputation as one of North Africa's safest destinations and its security services have worked aggressively to disrupt extremist plots before they can strike.  That reputation is about to face its biggest test yet, as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup. The Moroccan National Tourist Office did not respond to a request for comment. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.