The emergence in our country of a large number of “non-traditional specialists” (healers, sorcerers, astrologers, etc.) who use hypnosis for healing and prophetic purposes creates the preconditions for a significant increase in the abuse of this potent drug. In the new work of a famous psychophysiologist and hypnologist L.P. Grimak, author of many books on psychology and psychotherapy, for the first time examines in detail the techniques of hypnosis and suggestion that are used for illegal purposes, as well as the possibility of using hypnosis in solving crimes. Particular attention is paid to the issues of abuse of mental suggestions and hypnosis in various religious organizations and media.