July 22,2025
RED FM News Desk
B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) has issued a warning about a new phone scam where fraudsters are impersonating the agency and demanding payment in cryptocurrency.
In social media posts shared Tuesday, BCEHS said several people have reported receiving calls that appear to come from “B.C. Ambulance.” The scammers claim that ambulance fees must be paid in bitcoin.
“These calls are fraudulent and are not from BCEHS,” the agency clarified.
It emphasized that legitimate ambulance bills can only be paid by credit card or bank transfer—never with cryptocurrency or other unconventional methods. Anyone unsure about a call related to an ambulance bill is encouraged to contact the BCEHS billing department directly at 1-800-665-7199.
While ambulance services are not covered under B.C.’s provincial Medical Services Plan (MSP), they are heavily subsidized. According to BCEHS, B.C. residents with valid care cards pay $50 if no transport occurs or is refused, and $80 if transportation is provided.
For those not covered by MSP, the full fees are much higher: $848 for ground transport, $4,394 per hour for a helicopter, and $11 per mile ($6.94/km) for air transport.
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