[CaptainCrunch]

Depends on if they're still working there or not.

References are fairly worthless in themselves because the interviewee is submitting them. For all you know your talking to his or her mother.

Companies are getting more value out of googling a persons name.

Plus companies are getting hesitant to give references because of the possibility that your negative reference will cost someone a job which could end up in front of the courts.