The Freedom 251 mobile — marketed as the world’s cheapest smartphone — created a massive buzz in India due to its unbelievable price of just ₹251 (around $4). But with such an eye-catching offer comes a big question: Is Freedom 251 Mobile a scam or a genuine deal?
Many people were excited to book this “Make in India” device, but several red flags suggest it might be too good to be true. Let’s break down the facts, controversies, and the latest updates.
Latest Updates on Freedom 251 Fraud Case
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May 2017 – The owner of Ringing Bells Pvt. Ltd., Mohit Goel, was arrested for cheating and failing to deliver the booked smartphones.
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February 2025 – Mohit Goel was released on bail, but other company promoters were arrested by Haryana Police in a ₹4 crore fraud case.
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2016 Shipment Promise – The company earlier claimed to start delivering limited units after June 30, 2016, but the majority of buyers never received their phones.
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Future Products – At one point, they announced a budget LED TV for ₹10,000 (32-inch), but that too never materialized for most customers.
Why the Freedom 251 Offer Raised Suspicion
The phone was advertised to have:
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Long battery life
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High-quality camera
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Fast RAM and storage
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Features comparable to phones worth at least ₹3,000–₹4,000
Yet, they claimed to sell it for only ₹251. Adding to the doubt, another brand Adcom stated that the handset shown in promotions was actually their product, worth over ₹3,000, rebranded as Freedom 251.
Payment Gateway Involvement
Ringing Bells reportedly received orders worth ₹1.75 crore via PayU Payment Gateway. PayU later froze the payments, promising to release funds only if customers actually received their orders. This was a rare positive move to protect consumers, as in many scams, payment processors have been accused of silently collaborating.
Why This Looks Like a Ponzi-Type Scam
In schemes like this, the company earns huge interest on collected booking amounts before refunding customers later. Even if refunds are issued, the interest on crores of rupees can generate massive profits for the organizers.
Past Behavior of Ringing Bells
This wasn’t their first controversy. Before Freedom 251, they launched the Smart 101 mobile, which was also never delivered to many buyers. At that time, the excuse was “out of stock” — a common scam tactic.
Real Experiences from Buyers
Here’s what people have said online:
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“They fooled people with Smart 101 before, and now again with Freedom 251.”
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“Even if they refund later, they keep the booking interest, making easy money.”
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“When we visited their office, it was locked. Calls to their number went unanswered.”
FAQs: Freedom 251 Mobile Scam
Q1: Can I still buy Freedom 251 in 2025?
No. The official website is inactive, and no genuine sales channels exist.
Q2: Did anyone actually receive the phone?
A very small number of promotional units were reportedly delivered to create hype, but the majority of buyers never got their orders.
Q3: Is this a Make in India initiative?
While marketed as “Make in India,” the actual handsets used in promotion were reportedly imported and rebranded.
Final Verdict – Is Freedom 251 Mobile a Scam?
Based on the evidence, Freedom 251 was more of a marketing fraud than a real product launch. Unrealistic pricing, unfulfilled promises, rebranded devices, and legal troubles all point to a large-scale scam.
If an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is.