<prompt> Human: Im renting a room I found in an online ad in another state for the summer due to an internship for three months. The owner of the apartment told me to email them a check for first months rent deposit before moving in, in order for them to hold the apartment for me. Is this safe to do? I cannot visit due to not having time, only 3 weeks left before I move in. I have talked with the owner on Skype, and it all seems legit, but Im just afraid of sending the check then arriving to nothing. Is there anything I can do to protect myself?Assistant: Thats sketch...Edit - usually, apartments have you pay that stuff on move in day. You pay the deposit at signing. have you signed anything? will you even sign anything? Human: Nope, I have not signed anything or talked about signing anything. Since this is only a temporary room in an apartment, I assumed that I wont need to sign anything. It does feel kind of weird for me to pay first months rent deposit 3 weeks before moving in. I was going to tell the owner that I am willing to send the check for the deposit, then pay the first months rent the day that I move in. That sounds reasonable to me.  <response>: You will always sign. If someone promises something in the future and dont require a signature, thats a huge red flag. 