If I ever found out a potential hiring company went around my list of approved references to find other opinions I would immediately cease negotiations and star

If I ever found out a potential hiring company went around my list of approved references to find other opinions I would immediately cease negotiations and start warning colleagues about that company. It's rude. It's invasive. If you are incapable of determining if the person sitting infront of you is a fit for your organization without serious spy work, you shouldn't be sitting in the hiring chair. References are doing a favor for the applicant. To cold call people randomly trying to dig up dirt is sad and pathetic.