Area code 250
Area code 250 holds 781 in-service central-office prefixes in the CNAC register, covering roughly 7,810,000 telephone numbers. They are split between 13 carriers and 268 rate centres. The largest is Victoria. Recorded assignments run from August 26, 1999 to August 29, 2023. That ranks it 2 of 55 Canadian area codes by prefix count.
Background reading: Caller ID spoofing, STIR/SHAKEN, and how to actually block calls in Canada · Canadian area codes, overlays, and what a 416 number actually tells you · One-ring scams and the Caribbean area codes that look Canadian
Area code 250 at a glance
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Main rate centres
- Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo, South Kamloops, Prince George
- Local time
- — Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time — also: Mountain Standard Time, Mountain Time
- In service since
- October 19, 1996
- Split or overlaid from
- 604
- Number format
- 250-NXX-XXXX · +1 250 NXX XXXX
Sources: CNAC, NANPA (September 25, 2026), Statistics Canada.
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 781
- Telephone numbers covered
- 7,810,000
- Carriers
- 13
- Rate centres
- 268
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- August 26, 1999
- Most recent assignment
- August 29, 2023
Who holds these numbers
TELUS holds the largest share at 473 prefixes, 60.6% of the total, ahead of 12 other carriers.
| Carrier | Prefixes | Share | First assigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| TELUS | 473 | 60.6 % | 1999 |
| TELUS Mobility | 92 | 11.8 % | 1999 |
| Bell Mobility | 71 | 9.1 % | 2001 |
| Rogers Communications Canada Inc. (Wireless) | 60 | 7.7 % | 1999 |
| Shaw Telecom Inc. | 26 | 3.3 % | 2007 |
| Bell West Inc. | 19 | 2.4 % | 2000 |
| Northwestel | 15 | 1.9 % | — |
| Fido Solutions Inc. | 13 | 1.7 % | 1999 |
| Iristel Inc. | 4 | 0.5 % | 2009 |
| City West Cable and Telephone Corp. | 3 | 0.4 % | — |
| GT Group Telecom Services Corp. | 2 | 0.3 % | 1999 |
| Zayo Canada Inc. | 2 | 0.3 % | 2004 |
| Videotron Ltd. | 1 | 0.1 % | 2019 |
Where these numbers land
Prefixes in 250 serve 268 rate centres. A rate centre is the billing area a prefix is attached to, not where the handset is.
| Rate centre | Province | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | BC | 94 | 11 |
| Kelowna | BC | 32 | 6 |
| Nanaimo | BC | 25 | 7 |
| South Kamloops | BC | 22 | 6 |
| Prince George | BC | 19 | 6 |
| Vernon | BC | 19 | 5 |
| Penticton | BC | 15 | 5 |
| Duncan | BC | 14 | 6 |
| Courtenay | BC | 13 | 5 |
| Campbell River | BC | 12 | 6 |
| Fort St. John | BC | 12 | 5 |
| Parksville | BC | 11 | 6 |
| Port Alberni | BC | 10 | 5 |
| Cranbrook | BC | 8 | 4 |
| Dawson Creek | BC | 8 | 4 |
| Saanich | BC | 8 | 2 |
| Salmon Arm | BC | 8 | 4 |
| Terrace | BC | 8 | 5 |
| Chemainus | BC | 7 | 6 |
| Quesnel | BC | 7 | 4 |
| Williams Lake | BC | 7 | 4 |
| 100 Mile House | BC | 6 | 4 |
| Chetwynd | BC | 6 | 4 |
| Creston | BC | 6 | 4 |
| Ganges | BC | 6 | 5 |
| Nelson | BC | 6 | 4 |
| Trail | BC | 6 | 4 |
| Wellington | BC | 6 | 2 |
| Castlegar | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Fernie | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Fort Nelson | BC | 5 | 3 |
| Golden | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Grand Forks | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Invermere | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Keremeos | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Kimberley | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Merritt | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Oliver | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Port Hardy | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Princeton | BC | 5 | 4 |
| Revelstoke | BC | 5 | 3 |
| Rutland | BC | 5 | 2 |
| Smithers | BC | 5 | 3 |
| Burns Lake | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Kitimat | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Mackenzie | BC | 4 | 3 |
| North Kamloops | BC | 4 | 2 |
| Okanagan Mission | BC | 4 | 2 |
| Qualicum | BC | 4 | 2 |
| Sparwood | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Summerland | BC | 4 | 2 |
| Vanderhoof | BC | 4 | 3 |
| Westbank | BC | 4 | 2 |
| Clearwater | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Cobble Hill | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Comox | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Ladysmith | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Lakeview Heights | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Lillooet | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Midway | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Port Alice | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Prince Rupert | BC | 3 | 1 |
| Sooke | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Tumbler Ridge | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Ucluelet | BC | 3 | 3 |
| Alert Bay | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cache Creek | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cedar | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cumberland | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Fort St. James | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Fraser Lake | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Fulford Harbour | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Gabriola Island | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Gulf Islands | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Hartway | BC | 2 | 1 |
| Hazelton | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Houston | BC | 2 | 1 |
| Hudson's Hope | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Kaslo | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Lake Cowichan | BC | 2 | 2 |
How the allocation was built up
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 1995–1999 | 6 | 5 |
| 2000–2004 | 133 | 7 |
| 2005–2009 | 172 | 9 |
| 2010–2014 | 2 | 1 |
| 2015–2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020–2024 | 1 | 1 |
465 undated in the register.
Overlay area codes
250 shares its rate centres with 236, 778, 672, 257. Overlay codes cover the same ground, which is why ten-digit dialling is required: two neighbours on one street can hold different area codes.
What people check and report about 250 numbers
Searches typed into this site's lookup form since July 28, 2026, plus the verdicts and moderated reports visitors left. A search usually follows a missed call.
- Checks
- 195
- Different numbers
- 189
- Different people
- 174
14 verdicts and 0 reports
Scam 71 % (10) · Nuisance 21 % (3) · Safe 7 % (1)
Phone and text fraud in British Columbia
In 2024 the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre received 1,754 fraud reports from British Columbia where the first contact was a phone call (1,290) or a text (464); 1,082 came from victims, who reported $18.7 million lost. The most common types were service, bank investigator, phishing.
January to September 2025: 1,171 reports (-6% on the same months of 2024) and $13.8 million reported lost (+9%).
Source: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre open data (Open Government Licence – Canada), current to September 29, 2025. These are province-wide figures, not specific to one area code, and only a fraction of fraud is ever reported. Dataset
Had a call from a 250 number?
Most verdicts and reports on these numbers describe scam attempts, so treat an unexpected call as a possible scam.
- Call back on a number you trust
If a caller says they are your bank, the Canada Revenue Agency, a courier or your phone company, hang up and call the organization on the number from its website or your statement, never the number that called you. Caller ID can be faked.
- Report the fraud
Report the call or text to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or at 1-888-495-8501. If you lost money or gave out personal details, tell your bank first, then your local police.
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726
Forward a scam or spam text to 7726 (SPAM on the keypad). It's free, and your carrier uses it to block the sender. Don't tap links or reply.
Area code 250: questions and answers
Where is area code 250?
250 serves British Columbia. Its 781 in-service prefixes belong to 268 rate centres, mainly Victoria, Kelowna, Nanaimo and South Kamloops.
What time zone is area code 250 in?
It depends on the exchange: 206 rate centres are on Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time; 22 rate centres are on Mountain Standard Time (MST), UTC−7, no daylight saving time; 16 rate centres are on Mountain Time (MT), UTC−7; UTC−6 in daylight saving time.
When did area code 250 start?
250 has been in service since October 19, 1996; it was created from 604. It shares its territory with 236, 257, 672 and 778, so a new number there can get any of these codes.
Which carriers hold 250 numbers?
The CNAC register lists 13 carriers with prefixes in 250; the largest are TELUS (60.6%), TELUS Mobility (11.8%) and Bell Mobility (9.1%). Numbers can be ported, so the original carrier may not be the current one.
Are calls from 250 numbers scams?
Visitors have left 14 verdicts on 250 numbers (10 scam, 3 nuisance, 1 safe) and 0 moderated reports. That covers the numbers people looked up, not all of 250: most belong to ordinary households and businesses, and scammers can display a local number.
Is phone fraud rising in British Columbia?
In the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's open data, call and text fraud reports from British Columbia went from 1,243 in January–September 2024 to 1,171 in the same months of 2025 (-6%). Reported losses went from $12.7 million to $13.8 million.
How do I report a scam call from a 250 number?
Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (1-888-495-8501). If you lost money, call your bank first, then your local police. Unwanted telemarketing goes to the National Do Not Call List, and spam texts can be forwarded to 7726.
Allocated prefixes
Showing 293 of 781 prefixes, largest rate centres first.
Victoria, BC
250-208 · 250-213 · 250-216 · 250-217 · 250-220 · 250-294 · 250-298 · 250-356 · 250-360 · 250-361
Kelowna, BC
250-212 · 250-215 · 250-258 · 250-300 · 250-317 · 250-322 · 250-448 · 250-469 · 250-470 · 250-575
Nanaimo, BC
250-244 · 250-268 · 250-327 · 250-518 · 250-591 · 250-616 · 250-618 · 250-619 · 250-667 · 250-668
South Kamloops, BC
250-214 · 250-299 · 250-314 · 250-318 · 250-319 · 250-320 · 250-371 · 250-372 · 250-374 · 250-377
Prince George, BC
250-277 · 250-301 · 250-552 · 250-561 · 250-562 · 250-563 · 250-564 · 250-565 · 250-596 · 250-612
Vernon, BC
250-241 · 250-260 · 250-275 · 250-306 · 250-307 · 250-308 · 250-309 · 250-351 · 250-503 · 250-540
Penticton, BC
250-274 · 250-276 · 250-328 · 250-460 · 250-462 · 250-482 · 250-486 · 250-487 · 250-488 · 250-490
Duncan, BC
250-252 · 250-466 · 250-510 · 250-597 · 250-701 · 250-709 · 250-710 · 250-715 · 250-732 · 250-737
Courtenay, BC
250-207 · 250-218 · 250-331 · 250-334 · 250-338 · 250-465 · 250-650 · 250-702 · 250-703 · 250-792
Campbell River, BC
250-201 · 250-202 · 250-203 · 250-204 · 250-205 · 250-286 · 250-287 · 250-504 · 250-830 · 250-850
Fort St. John, BC
250-224 · 250-261 · 250-262 · 250-263 · 250-264 · 250-271 · 250-329 · 250-663 · 250-785 · 250-787
Parksville, BC
250-228 · 250-240 · 250-248 · 250-586 · 250-607 · 250-905 · 250-927 · 250-937 · 250-947 · 250-951
Port Alberni, BC
250-206 · 250-720 · 250-723 · 250-724 · 250-730 · 250-731 · 250-735 · 250-736 · 250-913 · 250-918
Cranbrook, BC
250-417 · 250-420 · 250-421 · 250-426 · 250-464 · 250-489 · 250-581 · 250-919
Dawson Creek, BC
250-219 · 250-467 · 250-719 · 250-782 · 250-784 · 250-795 · 250-806 · 250-854
Saanich, BC
250-544 · 250-652 · 250-654 · 250-655 · 250-656 · 250-657 · 250-665 · 250-669
Salmon Arm, BC
250-253 · 250-463 · 250-515 · 250-517 · 250-803 · 250-804 · 250-832 · 250-833
Terrace, BC
250-615 · 250-631 · 250-635 · 250-638 · 250-641 · 250-892 · 250-922 · 250-975
Chemainus, BC
250-210 · 250-246 · 250-324 · 250-416 · 250-436 · 250-533 · 250-606
Quesnel, BC
250-255 · 250-316 · 250-925 · 250-983 · 250-985 · 250-991 · 250-992
Williams Lake, BC
250-267 · 250-302 · 250-303 · 250-305 · 250-392 · 250-398 · 250-855
100 Mile House, BC
250-395 · 250-609 · 250-644 · 250-706 · 250-945 · 250-948
Chetwynd, BC
250-401 · 250-556 · 250-601 · 250-788 · 250-874 · 250-875
Creston, BC
250-254 · 250-402 · 250-428 · 250-431 · 250-435 · 250-977
Ganges, BC
250-221 · 250-526 · 250-530 · 250-537 · 250-538 · 250-931
Nelson, BC
250-352 · 250-354 · 250-505 · 250-509 · 250-551 · 250-777
Trail, BC
250-231 · 250-364 · 250-368 · 250-512 · 250-521 · 250-921
Wellington, BC
250-585 · 250-729 · 250-751 · 250-756 · 250-758 · 250-760
Castlegar, BC
250-304 · 250-365 · 250-513 · 250-608 · 250-687
Fernie, BC
250-278 · 250-423 · 250-430 · 250-531 · 250-946
Fort Nelson, BC
250-233 · 250-321 · 250-500 · 250-774 · 250-775
Golden, BC
250-272 · 250-290 · 250-344 · 250-439 · 250-939
Grand Forks, BC
250-442 · 250-443 · 250-444 · 250-584 · 250-666
Invermere, BC
250-270 · 250-341 · 250-342 · 250-409 · 250-688
Keremeos, BC
250-499 · 250-501 · 250-502 · 250-506 · 250-599
Kimberley, BC
250-427 · 250-432 · 250-520 · 250-602 · 250-908
Merritt, BC
250-280 · 250-315 · 250-378 · 250-525 · 250-936
Oliver, BC
250-408 · 250-485 · 250-498 · 250-535 · 250-689
Port Hardy, BC
250-230 · 250-527 · 250-671 · 250-902 · 250-949
Princeton, BC
250-273 · 250-293 · 250-295 · 250-438 · 250-582
Allocation source: Canadian Numbering Administrator (CNAC), the registry that records which carrier a central-office code was originally issued to. An allocation says who was issued the prefix, not who serves the number today: numbers can be ported between carriers, and caller ID can be spoofed outright.