Area code 257
Area code 257 holds 18 in-service central-office prefixes in the CNAC register, covering roughly 180,000 telephone numbers. They are split between 4 carriers and 15 rate centres. The largest is Vancouver. Recorded assignments run from September 5, 2024 to April 15, 2026. That ranks it 53 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 257 at a glance
- Province or territory
- British Columbia
- Local time
- — Pacific Time (PT), UTC−8; UTC−7 in daylight saving time
- In service since
- May 24, 2025
- Split or overlaid from
- 604
- Number format
- 257-NXX-XXXX · +1 257 NXX XXXX
Sources: CNAC, NANPA (September 25, 2026), Statistics Canada.
In numbers
- In-service prefixes
- 18
- Telephone numbers covered
- 180,000
- Carriers
- 4
- Rate centres
- 15
- Provinces and territories
- 1
- First assignment
- September 5, 2024
- Most recent assignment
- April 15, 2026
Who holds these numbers
Fibernetics Corporation holds the largest share at 7 prefixes, 38.9% of the total, ahead of 3 other carriers.
| Carrier | Prefixes | Share | First assigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibernetics Corporation | 7 | 38.9 % | 2024 |
| IXICA Communications Inc. | 7 | 38.9 % | 2025 |
| TELUS | 2 | 11.1 % | 2026 |
| TELUS Mobility | 2 | 11.1 % | 2024 |
Where these numbers land
Prefixes in 257 serve 15 rate centres. A rate centre is the billing area a prefix is attached to, not where the handset is.
| Rate centre | Province | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | BC | 3 | 2 |
| Richmond | BC | 2 | 2 |
| Cloverdale | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Fort Langley | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Ganges | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Haney | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Langley | BC | 1 | 1 |
| New Westminster | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Newton | BC | 1 | 1 |
| North Vancouver | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Pender Island | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Prince George | BC | 1 | 1 |
| South Kamloops | BC | 1 | 1 |
| Vernon | BC | 1 | 1 |
| West Vancouver | BC | 1 | 1 |
How the allocation was built up
| Period | Prefixes | Carriers |
|---|---|---|
| 2020–2024 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025–2029 | 13 | 4 |
Overlay area codes
257 shares its rate centres with 236, 672, 778, 604, 250. Overlay codes cover the same ground, which is why ten-digit dialling is required: two neighbours on one street can hold different area codes.
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 257 number?
No clear pattern in reports on these numbers yet. If a call worried you:
- 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.
- Register on the National Do Not Call List
Registering a landline or mobile on the National DNCL is free. Registered charities, political parties, newspapers and companies you already do business with may still call.
- 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 257: questions and answers
Where is area code 257?
257 serves British Columbia. Its 18 in-service prefixes belong to 15 rate centres, mainly Vancouver, Richmond, Cloverdale and Fort Langley.
What time zone is area code 257 in?
Every placed rate centre in 257 is on Pacific Time (PT, UTC−8), with daylight saving time (UTC−7) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
When did area code 257 start?
257 has been in service since May 24, 2025; it was created from 604. It shares its territory with 236, 250, 604, 672 and 778, so a new number there can get any of these codes.
Which carriers hold 257 numbers?
The CNAC register lists 4 carriers with prefixes in 257; the largest are Fibernetics Corporation (38.9%), IXICA Communications Inc. (38.9%) and TELUS (11.1%). Numbers can be ported, so the original carrier may not be the current one.
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 257 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
All 18 in-service prefixes, grouped by rate centre.
Vancouver, BC
257-222 · 257-700 · 257-999
Richmond, BC
257-777 · 257-888
Cloverdale, BC
257-277
Fort Langley, BC
257-500
Ganges, BC
257-258
Haney, BC
257-377
Langley, BC
257-200
New Westminster, BC
257-757
Newton, BC
257-577
North Vancouver, BC
257-444
Pender Island, BC
257-259
Prince George, BC
257-882
South Kamloops, BC
257-881
Vernon, BC
257-883
West Vancouver, BC
257-333
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.