Are you doing this from Europe and sight unseen? Asking because you said the receipt from payment is proof for the "tour" (??) and move in. Please don't do anything sight unseen. What does the tour mean exactly.

I will go against what some have said here and say a deposit isn't impossible, but they need to keep it in interest making escrow account. A deposit is specifically for damages, which the regular tenant is responsible for so I can see someone charging a deposit and have actually paid one in a sublet and everything was on the up and up. This place was also furnished, so I was also using their things. The landlord also was aware of/approved sublet, so you want to make absolute sure that is happening as well.