Sounds like a joke in 2025 — but in 2016, millions of Indians believed it.
A Noida-based startup called Ringing Bells promised to deliver the world’s cheapest smartphone — the Freedom 251 — at just ₹250. The pitch?
“Make in India. Digital India. Everyone deserves a smartphone.”
The result?
Website crashed. ₹145 crore collected. Hope went viral.
But when the phone finally arrived… it wasn’t a revolution — it was a cheap Chinese device with a sticker hiding its real branding.
And the mastermind? Already out on bail for a previous fraud case.
What began as a dream of digital inclusion turned into one of India’s most bizarre startup scams.
Let this serve as a reminder:
Not every founder with a mic and slogan is building the future. Some are just building the next con.
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