672 Area Code Canada: Location, Time Zone, and Scam Facts

If you’ve spotted a phone number starting with 672 and wondered whether it’s legit or a scam, you’re not alone. Thousands of Canadians and businesses in British Columbia now use this area code — it’s a real, government-approved overlay covering the entire province. This article will walk you through where 672 is located, why it exists, and how to tell a genuine call from a spoofed one.

Introduced: May 2022 · Location: British Columbia, Canada · Type: Overlay for area codes 604, 250, 778, 236 · Status: Active and mandatory for new numbers in BC · Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC -8)

Six facts that define 672 — one pattern: every fact reinforces that 672 is a legitimate, regulated Canadian overlay, not a spam zone.

The pattern: Every piece of data confirms 672 is a standard North American area code, fully integrated into Canada’s phone system.

Where is a 672 area code?

The 672 area code covers all of British Columbia, Canada, as an overlay for the 604, 250, 778, and 236 numbering plan areas, according to AllAreaCodes. It does not cover Toronto, Ontario, or any other province. The footprint includes Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Okanagan, the Thompson and Cariboo regions, the Kootenays, and northern BC, per JustCall. If you receive a call from a 672 number, the caller is likely based somewhere in British Columbia.

Why this matters: Many people mistakenly associate 672 with Antarctica or a toll-free scam. But it’s a real, local BC number — and that changes how you should evaluate the call.

Is the 672 area code new?

Yes, 672 is relatively new. It was introduced in May 2022 to relieve pressure on existing area codes as number exhaustion loomed, according to AllAreaCodes. It is part of a long history of area code changes in British Columbia:

• 1947: Area code 604 assigned to all of BC.
• 1996: Area code 250 introduced as a split from 604.
• August 2008: Area code 778 introduced as an overlay (Wikipedia, community reference).
• August 2019: Area code 236 introduced as an overlay.
• May 2022: Area code 672 introduced as the third overlay.
• May 2025 (projected): Area code 257 added as a fourth overlay, per JustCall.

The trade-off: New overlays mean more numbers but also more confusion — especially when older databases still don’t recognize 672 as Canadian.

Is area code 672 spam?

No — the area code itself is not spam. It is a legitimate Canadian area code assigned by the Canadian Numbering Administrator. However, scammers can spoof any area code, including 672. As Joseph Steinberg, a cybersecurity expert, explains, scam risk depends on the caller’s behavior, not the area code alone.

What area code to avoid answering?

Avoiding all calls from a specific area code is ineffective because scammers spoof numbers freely. Instead, watch for generic warning signs: a prerecorded message, urgency, requests for personal or financial information, or a call from a number you don’t recognize that hangs up after one ring.

How can I tell if a phone number is from a scammer?

• Unknown number with no voicemail left.
• Prerecorded message demanding action (e.g., “your account will be closed”).
• Caller asks for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• The number appears to be from your own area code but you don’t know it — spoofing is common.

If a 672 number leaves a suspicious message, hang up and call back the official number of the organization they claim to represent. Do not use the callback number they provide.

What happens if I answer a spam call and say hello?

Answering confirms your number is active and answered by a real person. Scammers then mark it as a “live lead” and may sell your number to other callers, leading to more spam. Best practice: don’t answer unknown numbers. If you do answer and realize it’s spam, hang up immediately — do not engage or say “yes.”

672 area code Canada time zone

Most of the 672 footprint follows Pacific Time (PT), UTC -8 standard time and UTC -7 during daylight saving time, according to JustCall. The exception is the East Kootenay area (Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere), which uses Mountain Time.

The implication: If you receive a call from a 672 number outside PT hours, it may still be legitimate — but a call at 3 a.m. PT from a 672 number is suspicious regardless.

672 area code Canada ontario

Despite some online confusion, the 672 area code does not cover Ontario or Toronto. Ontario uses area codes 416, 647, 437, 905, 289, 365, 705, 249, 613, 343, 807, 519, 226, and 548. A number starting with 672 is exclusively from British Columbia.

The catch: Some phone-number validation libraries (like FlagPhoneNumber on GitHub) have incorrectly flagged +1-672 numbers as invalid, as documented in a GitHub issue. This technical glitch may cause some websites to reject a valid Canadian number.

Timeline signal

What this means: British Columbia has added five area codes since 1996 to keep up with demand. The next overlay (257) is already on the way, confirming that number exhaustion is a real, ongoing challenge for the province.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• 672 is a legitimate Canadian area code for British Columbia.
• It is an overlay for 604, 250, 778, and 236.
• Introduced in May 2022.
• Follows Pacific Time (most of the territory), with East Kootenay on Mountain Time.
• Part of the +1 North American Numbering Plan.

What’s unclear

• Some websites still do not recognize 672 as a valid Canadian code; it is unclear when they will update (YouTube discussion from users).
• The exact number of subscribers with active 672 numbers is not publicly reported.
• The in-service date varies across sources — AllAreaCodes lists June 2013, while JustCall says May 2019 following CRTC Telecom Decision 2018-58. The discrepancy likely reflects confusion between the area code’s introduction and later numbering-plan changes.

What people are saying

“Area code 672 is a North American Numbering Plan area code in the +1 country-code system used by Canada. It is not inherently a scam.”

Joseph Steinberg, cybersecurity columnist

“The 672 footprint includes Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Okanagan, the Thompson and Cariboo regions, the Kootenays, and the North. Most of it is in Pacific Time, except the East Kootenay which is in Mountain Time.”

JustCall, a business phone provider

“I’ve seen user reports on Reddit about websites rejecting their 672 number as invalid. It’s a growing pain of a new area code.”

User discussion on YouTube

For anyone in British Columbia receiving calls from a 672 number, the choice is clear: treat it like any other local call, but stay alert for scam behavior. If you live outside BC, a 672 call is still a legitimate Canadian number — just don’t let the unfamiliar code trick you into answering a scam that could have come from any area code.

Readers interested in the broader context of the 672 area code can explore the 672 area code overlay for a complete overview of British Columbia’s overlay codes.

Frequently asked questions