Finding someone to flirt with in cyberspace isn't hard. Finding a life mate is tougher-that is, assuming your correspondent is who he/she claims to be. Most sites offer free trials and anonymity. Use them. Herein, sites that mix exclusivity, choice and special interests.

Match.com
Boasts 5 million members and more than 1,000 marriages. Browse for free, including user profiles. Free 7-day trial lets you access all features except e-mail responses and chat. When you're ready to submit a profile, pricing ranges from $25 monthly to $100 annually. Let the e-mail service, Venus, find and deliver up to 10 profile matches to your in-box.The Webzine, Matchscene, dishes profile makeovers, safety tips for only dating and Frankly Fran, cyberdating's Dear Abby.

Date-A-Doc
Caters to health care professionals and those interested in dating them. Profiles run from the orthopedic tech looking for fun to the arty dentist who likes photography. There's also a listing of symposia and conferences.

Friend Finder
It's free to join, post an ad, e-mail and chat with more than 8 million members worldwide-82,000 in California alone. Chat rooms like the Mountain Zone and the Euro Room bring together members by region. Daily matches zap to your in-box.

MatchMaker
Whether you're a swinger in San Francisco, in recovery in Rochester or a Mormon far from Salt Lake City, this megasite matches singles by location and lifestyle. Offers one of the most comprehensive questionnaires and match search systems. Excellent site tour and limited free trial.

The Right Stuff
For Ivy League-level grads and faculty. Scan ads in this bare-bones site by school and locale. To read a member's in-depth profile, you must join, which requires a copy of your diploma, transcript or correspondence from one of 45 listed schools.