As part of an ongoing series for Vetstreet, where this post originally appeared, award-winning consumer reporter Mitch Lipka tackles common scams that target pet owners. This week, he discusses how you can avoid being conned when your beloved furry companion goes missing.

Imagine you've lost your dog or cat. Those who've been through this heartbreaking experience know you'd do almost anything to get your pet back. And that desire is exactly what makes you a prime target for the lost pet scam.

The Scenario Your pet is MIA, so you post flyers around the neighborhood and maybe even run ads on Craigslist to help you locate your lost friend.

Ways the Scam Works The information you've shared -- a photo, your phone number and other details -- can be used by crooks to merely pretend they have your lost animal.

Here are the most common variations of the scam:

• Someone claiming to be a long-haul truck driver says that he found your pet near the highway and now wants money in advance to transport the animal back to your town.
• A person contacts you saying he knows who has stolen your pet and is willing to help you get the animal back -- for a fee.
• This one will really tug at your heart: Your animal has been hurt, so he'll need money to cover the veterinary costs before you're reunited.

After the jump: How to protect yourself from scammers.