Walmart in talks to acquire Israeli-founded startup to combat scams, counterfeits

Core Insights - Walmart is in discussions to acquire R&A Data, a startup focused on reducing scams and counterfeits in online marketplaces, founded by two Israeli scientists [1] - This acquisition aligns with Walmart's strategy to enhance its third-party marketplace, which is crucial for increasing profits and expanding its e-commerce business, which saw a 25% growth in the U.S. in the last reported quarter [2] - R&A Data has been collaborating with Walmart since at least 2024 as a third-party vendor, assisting in screening product listings for compliance issues, which led to Walmart's decision to pursue the acquisition [3] - Details regarding the acquisition deal remain unclear, and Walmart has not commented on the matter [4] - The news follows an investigation revealing that Walmart had relaxed its seller and product vetting controls over time to grow its online marketplace and compete with Amazon [5]