A decade-long Wal-Mart barcode crime ring has been busted (how often do you hear that?); the scammers were apparently replacing UPC bar codes for high-priced items with homemade bar codes for cheaper stuff, then selling or returning the items, defrauding the company of $1.5M in the process. Two couples were arrested, although authorities say there were up to 30 accomplices. We’re not sure what this shows more of—the ingenuity of the criminals, or cluelessness of Wal-Mart employees. [Via BoingBoing]