Recently read on lonely planet forum:
Just to let travellers be aware of a scam at the boarder of Corumba in Brazil going into Bolivia. If u get the bus from Sao Paulo to Campo Grande when u get off the bus to get the connection to Corumba u are first met by a woman who tells u that the trains are all full and that she knows of a friend who has accommadation and can get u the trains tickets as soon as there is space, so she starts by planting the seed. When u arrive in the terminal at Corumba u get greeted by a 2 guys, 1 says his name is Diego ( maradona is says to get u laughting ) the other guys name is Daniel from the tour company there called indiana tours, Diego hands u a flyer for hi hostel and than Daniel proceeds to tel u that the trains are full for 2 days because its a Brazilian holiday and that he can get u on the next train available for 50 real which he says is the best train, than Diego steps in and tels u he can get u cheap accommadation at his hostel to help u save money, so 2 days later he says the trains are full again and says u can have ur money back and try urself when u say yes he makes some excuse to say that he already has given ur name and that if u just wait he will get them because there is a hugh waitin line for the tickets, anyhows this is all untrue, there is no Brazilian holiday and if u go straight to the train u will get on a train pretty much straight away, they try and keep u stayin at Diegos hostels so they get more money and split between them, the hostel is horrible, smells of urine, the bathrooms are digusting, he locks the room were the internet is and dosent come back til very late at night and also his family live there in the rooms right next toi the dorms. Even if the immigration is closed at the terminal u still can go accross to Bolivia were the accommadation is so cheap and wait til the next morning and get ur passport stamped, i av met alot of travellers who were also scamed by these horrible people and they seem to prey more so Asians who normally dont fight back. Beware
