Luxury watch dealer and internet creator Tyler Mikorski, better known online as Vookum, suddenly became a trending topic after his mug shot started circulating on social media. The New York-based watch seller later posted a video explaining what happened, saying he was wrongfully arrested and spent three days in jail. According to Mikorski, the arrest happened on March 1, 2026, while he was preparing to board a flight to the Bahamas. Authorities told him there was a warrant connected to a grand larceny case in Florida.
The situation quickly caught attention online because many followers were surprised to see the well-known watch influencer involved in a criminal case. However, Mikorski insists the case was a misunderstanding. In his explanation, he said someone allegedly pretended to be him online and scammed a buyer, which eventually led investigators to issue a warrant in his name. The story quickly spread across platforms like YouTube and social media, with people trying to understand how the situation unfolded.
Tyler “Vookum” Mikorski says impersonation scam led to arrest before case was dismissed
Tyler Mikorski runs the Vookum luxury watch business from 47th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York. The brand focuses on buying, selling and auctioning high-end wristwatches. Mikorski also posts videos showing behind-the-scenes moments from watch deals and collaborations with clients.
In his video, Mikorski said the arrest happened early in the morning while he was leaving the United States. He explained, “I got arrested on March 1st, 2026, at approximately 7:55 to 8:00 a.m., boarding a flight to the Bahamas.”
Authorities told him the arrest was connected to a Florida case involving stolen property worth between $5,000 and $10,000. According to Mikorski, an officer explained the reason clearly.
He recalled the officer saying, “Yeah, so the reason you have been arrested is because you have a grand larceny charge in the state of Florida over $5,000 and under $10,000.”
Mikorski said he was then transferred and booked at the Essex County Correctional Facility. Online records show he remained there until March 3, when he was released around 8:00 p.m.
During that time, Mikorski said he contacted his business partner, Mitchell Teper. According to him, Teper quickly looked into the situation and contacted a lawyer.
Tyler Mikorski explained what he was told during that call. He said, “Before I got into the cell, I was able to make a call. So I called Mitch, who’s my business partner. He said, ‘Don’t worry about it. We got the lawyer on it. We’re going to figure this out.’”
According to Tyler Mikorski, the issue began when someone allegedly used the Vookum name on Facebook Marketplace to sell a watch that never existed. The buyer reportedly sent money but never received the product. The complaint was then reported to authorities, who believed Tyler Mikorski was responsible.
The influencer believes investigators did not realize it was an impersonation case. He said, “Someone on Facebook used my name and scammed somebody in Florida, and they thought it was me.”
After spending three days in custody, Tyler Mikorski was released. Online records now show that the case appears to have been dismissed, bringing the situation to an end.
