I haven’t seen any specific scams of this type yet, so think of this as one of those “you know it’s going to happen, so be prepared” moments: The FBI is already warning consumers about possible Haiti Earthquake Scams. Le sigh.

Here’s the deal—if you get an unsolicited (you didn’t request it) email requesting donations for victims of the recent Haitian earthquake, or if someone contacts you via social networks (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc.) asking for help, just don’t respond. The odds that it is a scam are just too high to risk it.

If you are approached by a charity you believe is legitimate, ask lots of questions. If they’re honest, they won’t mind providing information. However, I still wouldn’t donate to these requests, either.

If you really want to help, contact an organization you already know and trust, and donate without them asking you first. Make sure you’ve got the name of the organization correct before you act—scam charities sometimes change one small word in the name of a well-known charity in an attempt to confuse people.

There is a long list of organizations involved in relief efforts here, from MSNBC. I’m not familiar with most of these, and I’m not endorsing any one in particular or vouching for what they do.

We are in an age where every natural disaster, every new government action and every new technology is immediately assimilated by criminals looking for easy money. If you want to help out in Haiti, contact your favorite charity today. Don’t wait for someone to ask.