Who Is Calling From 604 or 778? BC Area Codes Explained
A 604 number was issued in southwestern mainland BC, including Vancouver, Surrey and Abbotsford. A 778 number can be from anywhere in British Columbia, because 778 has covered the whole province since July 2007, and so do 236, 672 and 257. None of these codes tells you where the caller is today.
How BC’s area codes fit together
British Columbia has six area codes. Two of them cover distinct regions, and four are overlays that stack on top of the whole province. These dates come from the Canadian Numbering Administrator’s relief history:
| Area code | In service | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | 1947 | Southwestern mainland BC, including Vancouver |
| 250 | October 1996 | Vancouver Island and the rest of BC |
| 778 | November 2001 | Lower Mainland, then all of BC from July 2007 |
| 236 | June 2013 | All of BC |
| 672 | May 2019 | All of BC |
| 257 | May 2025 | All of BC |
604 was one of the original area codes assigned in 1947 and covered the entire province until 250 split off. When 778 arrived, it overlaid only the Lower Mainland at first. In July 2007 it was extended to the whole province to relieve 250, and every code added since has been province-wide.
Is a 778 number from Vancouver?
Not necessarily. Since July 2007, 778 numbers can be issued anywhere in British Columbia. In the CNAC data TrustOrNah loaded in October 2026, 778 has 779 prefixes spread over 159 exchanges. Vancouver has the most, 172, but Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops and Cranbrook all have 778 blocks too.
Who holds BC numbers
The same October 2026 data shows how differently the codes are used:
| Area code | Prefixes and exchanges | Largest holder |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | 781 in 45 exchanges | TELUS, 400 prefixes |
| 778 | 779 in 159 exchanges | Shaw Telecom Inc., 113 |
| 236 | 746 in 269 exchanges | Navigata Communications, 144 |
| 672 | 324 in 111 exchanges | Iristel Inc., 73 |
604 is still a traditional code: TELUS’s wireline business holds more than half its prefixes, and 343 of them are in the Vancouver exchange. 778 is more mixed, with Shaw Telecom (part of Rogers since April 3, 2023), TELUS Mobility with 89, Rogers Wireless with 76, and Bell Mobility and Fido with 63 each.
The newest codes lean towards competitive carriers. In 236, Iristel holds 112 prefixes after Navigata, and Distributel 66. In 672, Iristel leads, followed by ISP Telecom with 51 and Fibernetics with 36. TrustOrNah labels Iristel and Fibernetics prefixes “Likely VoIP / virtual number”, because their numbers often end up on internet phone services and second-line apps. You can browse any of these codes, for example the area code 604 page.
Which BC area code is most likely to be a VoIP number?
672 and 236 have the largest share of prefixes held by competitive carriers. Iristel and Fibernetics together hold 109 of the 324 prefixes in 672 and 151 of the 746 in 236. That does not make a 672 call suspicious; it means the line type of the specific prefix is worth checking.
What a BC number can and cannot tell you
A lookup of the first six digits answers three questions: which carrier holds the block, which exchange it was assigned to, and whether the line is likely mobile, landline or VoIP. For BC, the area code itself adds one more clue. A 604 number was issued in southwestern mainland BC, and a 250 number elsewhere in the province. A 778, 236, 672 or 257 number could have been issued anywhere in the province.
What it cannot tell you:
- Where the caller is now. Mobile and internet phone numbers travel with their owner, and a Vancouver number works fine from Toronto or Manila.
- The current carrier, every time. Numbers can be ported to another provider, and the lookup shows the carrier that holds the block.
- Who the person is. Numbering records contain carriers and exchanges, never names.
- Whether the call was spoofed. Caller ID can show any number. Our guide to caller ID spoofing explains how.
Can a 604 number be a scam?
Yes, like any number. A 604 code only shows where the number was issued, and scammers can display a 604 number they do not own or use a real one they rented. Judge the call by what it asks for. A request for gift cards, crypto, a one-time code or remote access is a scam on any area code.
What to do now
- Look up the full number before calling back, and compare the line type with the caller’s story.
- Remember that 778, 236, 672 and 257 numbers can come from anywhere in BC.
- Call organizations back on a number you found yourself, not one given during the call.
- Report fraud to your local police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.