Sunauli to Gorakhpur/Varanasi bus scam

There has been various scams going on at that border and on those buses since decades. It is too bad local authorities don't put a stop to it!

These scams have been described in guidebooks and on the web for 30 years or so.

Borders world round are famous for scams. But, why not wait for a real conductor..

I’m not sure why people are making these rude and unhelpful comments?

We are careful and experienced backpackers. This scam is not mentioned in the Nepal or India Lonely Planet guidebooks, neither did it come up when we researched the journey on the internet.

We fell victim to a silly scam as everyone does sometimes. I wanted to avoid other people having the same bad experience so I went to the effort of posting about it to raise awareness.

This is the first time I have posted here and it will be the last time. I don’t need to be abused by random strangers when all I am doing is trying to help others.

Maybe you could try thinking before you speak in future and deciding whether what you are about to say is actually helpful and kind.

neither did it come up when we researched the journey on the internet.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-indian-subcontinent/topics/be-ware-kathmandu-nepal-to-varanasi-india-overland-warning-scam

I’m not sure why people are making these rude and unhelpful comments?

I can't see any rude or unhelpful comments...

Maybe you could try thinking before you speak in future

...however this could be considered as a rude comment...

Travelling in South Asia can be stressful especially if going low budget. However, you have to set yourself in the right mind set. Minor losses are bound to happen and the amounts to set it in perspective are modest. The learning value alone for future situations with real monetary value is immense. Think about being made the mark in a home purchase. My real estate teacher had the motto, you will be cheated in a home purchase. After India I am obsessively careful in that real estate process. I still get plucked but for a lesser amount and everyone gets plucked for title insurance. For that I am grateful for earlier experiences in travel. It helps to keep one aware as on the tourist circuit where you can meet some really evil types who prey on the unwary.

I find that if I slow down in India and stay an extra day or two at places I am more on my game and I even enjoy places that many quick travellers loath, Agra, Pushkar, etc. The satisfaction becomes the journey not the destination. Yes I still want to return to Agra. But, maybe not the Taj. Even old hands can get stung. When we first went to Delhi we were scammed for a few Rupes. Twenty years later we noticed we fell for the same routine. Instead of getting strung out we just laughed uproariously and got on with our business. Utilize the opportunity for introspection and self assessment and you come out ahead. The amount lost in these frequent but minor scams is nothing compared to others that are out there. The record here in the decades I have haunted this site (back to Version 1.0) was 60, 000 Euros! Put greed in on both sides and sadly there is the basis for a really first rate sting. Anyhow, party on, youth has a big advantage in life..

My last to times in India, I wasn't scammed once. Paying to much for a taxi or tuktuk is a different thing and not many rupes to worry about. I agree with Edward.

Thank you. I'll be crossing there soon and found this helpful. Don't let a few knucklehead trolls dissuade you from posting helpful information. You may save someone from being scammed.