I don't know exactly how your card is acting since I'm not the one swiping it. You made it sound above like your mag strip was bad and not being recognized. If that is the case, the fraudsters probably demagnetized it or put super glue over it so it wouldn't swipe, or else it was legitimately a bad mag strip. If instead your card is simply declining with the "funds not available" error, then that likely is due to the current Incomm issue that many ppl are having over the past day or two.

As to why you can't check your balance online, perhaps your IP address is blocked because you have inputted/checked too many card #s in a short amount of time, or you have inputted too many compromised card numbers. I have had this happen to me. Try using your cell phone (DISCONNECT from WiFi first and use your cell data instead) to see if you can check the balance from there.