Or.. maybe they didn't know there was pre-existing damage and so are completely within the realms of reasonable behaviour to accuse the OP of having done it.

Or... since the OP didn't check the car, how does he know it wasn't damaged during the rental? Maybe whilst parked up, by skateboarding teenagers or suchlike.

If you don't check the car before signing the form to say that it's in the condition they claim it is, then you can't really accuse them of 'scamming' you. That would only be the case if they claimed to have discovered damage after you had left the drop-off location, for example.

I do feel sorry for him, because I have also jumped in the car without checking it properly before, and can imagine it'd be rather worrying to have this then happen. But I don't think I could get angry at someone if I couldn't honestly say I'd checked it out beforehand! That just seems like pointing fingers to cover up for your own error.