The emergence in our country of a large number of "non-traditional specialists" (healers, sorcerers, astrologers, etc.) who use hypnosis for health and prophetic purposes, creates prerequisites for a significant increase in the abuse of this potent agent. In the work of the famous psychophysiologist and hypnologist L.P. Grimak, the author of many books on psychology and psychotherapy ("Reserves of the Human Psyche," "Bio-field Magic," etc.), for the first time, hypnosis and suggestion techniques that are used for illegal purposes are considered in detail, as well as the possibility of using hypnosis in the course of solving crimes. Particular attention is paid to the abuse of mental suggestion and hypnosis in various religious organizations and the media.