To trust or not to trust, that's the question!

Ok so I basically did the dumbest thing ever and I won't be telling my dad because this is definitely not something that an educated person should do but I did it anyways....... I wrote someone a cheque without asking for a contract for the room that I'm renting.......she basically gave me a piece of paper saying that I have paid for last month's rent! Is that good enough? Of course not! She could very well be a scam and flee the country before I come back in September! But who knows..... it might be the opposite......she seems like a super nice lady.... I hope she's not faking it...... I look forward to living in her home.... if she's not a scam that is! O well, $485 is the price that I will be paying for my stupidity... but as they say, live and learn! :)