OK, so I've been around for a few years, and I've got a situation, and before anyone asks, no neither of us took a pic of somebody's card.

My brother has been doing some routine MSing, GCs > MOs > Bank > CC.

He calls and tells me one of his GCs is throwing a 'card read error', so I check and the funds are on the card, and we go to my favorite test spot, and sure enough, even tried opposite direction, different reader, plastic bag, etc.

I had just setup a digital wallet that a regional store recently rolled-out that is supposed to store and present third-party cards, and it gets scanned with a gun instead of swiped. After searching for GreenDot Bank, I find a GreenDot something, but not the bank. It actually loaded and stored, but did not present, so it must notice the BIN is different.

My brother was there to help me trim a tree, so I said when we're done, I'll register the card online so as a last resort we could purchase another GC and he'd only have to eat the additional fee. HE LOST THE CARD, even though he said it was in the deep pocket of his work pants. We looked all over, but nada.

So I added the card to my amazon one-click and ordered a amazon GC. It worked, but got an email later saying the CC company wouldn't release the funds, but to try again later. Obviously because it wasn't registered.

So, the scammers do this every day, all day long. How can I convert/spend the funds? I have the number and the expiration date but not the three digit security code.

call the issuer, tell them it won't swipe, etc. They'll mail you a new card with the value on it. Should be free. Will only take a few extra days.

Wouldn't they still ask for the 3 digit security code on the "non-functioning" GC??

This is what I thought, but isn't the card lost? Although I'm confused because you say you lost the card but then proceeded to buy a GC on Amazon?

Beat me to it.

Amazon doesn't require the security code.

"My brother was there to help me trim a tree, so I said when we're done, I'll register the card online so as a last resort we could purchase another GC and he'd only have to eat the additional fee. HE LOST THE CARD, even though he said it was in the deep pocket of his work pants. We looked all over, but nada."

Right, but I thought the card was lost. How was the card used for payment if it was lost.

Simple. Your brother bought a card and lost it. It hasn't been used and still has the value on it. Report it as a lost card and it will be replaced, eventually. assuming he has the receipt. Don't bother mentioning the stripe was unreadable--it's irrelevant and might confuse the service rep.

Eh, I have the number and expiration date from when I entered into the digital wallet, where it remains stored.

Ah, ok.

Then just call in and say you lost the card. The easier and more straightforward you make it, the better.

oh, I sort of missed the part where he said he lost it lmao. this was def a tldr post.

So much unnecessary detail in the OP. My head hurts

Apparently not, given several people still didn't completely grasp the specifics right away. My intent was to try and head-off as many questions as possible.

~

BTW, my brother is still looking for the receipt. He said he's finding every one except the one he needs. Never fails, eh?

Stop payment with CC.

I thought you were buying pickles?