Luxury face cream from a pizza parlor: Inside fraud on Walmart.com

CNBC
CNBC 4M
A CNBC investigation reveals Walmart's online marketplace has seen a rise in counterfeit products due to lax vetting of third-party sellers, raising safety concerns.
Luxury face cream from a pizza parlor: Inside fraud on Walmart.com
A What happened
Walmart's online marketplace has surged in popularity, but a recent CNBC investigation highlights serious issues with counterfeit products stemming from lax vetting of third-party sellers. The investigation found that many sellers impersonated legitimate businesses, leading to the sale of potentially harmful health and beauty products. Walmart's efforts to compete with Amazon resulted in a more lenient seller approval process, which has raised alarms among consumers and industry experts. Despite Walmart's assurances of a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit goods, the investigation revealed numerous instances of fraud, prompting calls for stricter oversight. As Walmart's digital sales grow, the company faces increasing scrutiny over its marketplace practices and the safety of the products sold on its platform.

Why it matters

  • Lax Seller Vetting: Walmart's relaxed vetting process has allowed counterfeit sellers to thrive.

  • Consumer Safety Risks: Counterfeit health and beauty products pose significant risks to consumers.

  • Marketplace Growth: Walmart's marketplace has seen a 900% increase in sellers since 2019.

Topics

Business & Markets Economy Retail & E-commerce

Read the full article on CNBC

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