Washington — The Federal Trade Commission, under pressure from Congress to step up its scrutiny of the largely unregulated market in private student loans, has released a consumer guide to deceptive marketing.

The guide, which was jointly issued with the Department of Education, offers students advice on how to spot deceptive marketing and tips on how to navigate the loan-consolidation market. It also provides information on how to file a complaint against a lender.

Rep. George Miller, the Democrat of California who is chairman of the education committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, said the guide would “help students steer clear of manipulative or shady loan offers.”

“For too long, students have had virtually no protection from the confusing, misleading, and even predatory marketing materials used by many private lenders,” Repreentative Miller said.

Last year his committee passed a bill to renew the Higher Education Act that would require private lenders to provide borrowers with multiple disclosures about terms and conditions, and notify them that they may qualify for lower-cost federal loans.

The bill, which is being reconciled with the Senate’s version, would also require private lenders to obtain from a borrower’s college certification of his or her enrollment status and cost of attendance before issuing any loan funds. —Kelly Field