[US] Fell for a fake check scam in a very vulnerable position, feel so stupid

I’m just going to make a vent post because I’m extremely frustrated. I’ve been in a pretty tough financial situation recently because my previous roommate disappeared without a trace leaving me to cover the entirety of our lease. I’ve been desperately trying to find a new roommate and I thought I found one. She purported to be a graduate student with her company covering her rent. I got in touch with her « HR » department and they sent me two checks, one for a $400 deposit and another for the first months rent. I was unaware how fake check scams work, so I thought because the money was spendable in my account it was legit. So, I didn’t think anything of it when she asked me to send her the $400 « deposit » through zelle. I think I’m just going to be down that money, which is a horrible financial hit for me in an already precarious situation.

I just feel so stupid. I thought I was smart enough to not fall for something like this. I know to never buy gift cards or send a money order or anything stupid like that, but I hadn’t considered that they could give me a real-seeming check and then rob me blind. Not sure what to do.