Whitehaven Coal shares have fallen following a hoax announcement on funding for its Maules Creek project.

The coal miner was the victim of a hoax press release on Monday, claiming to be from the ANZ Bank stating that it had cancelled its $1.2 billion loan facility to Whitehaven to fund its Maules Creek project.

The release actually came from anti-coal mining activists.

The company's shares plunged six per cent in response to $3.31.

Whitehaven had its shares placed in a halt which is expected to be lifted on Monday.

The ANZ Bank on Monday also confirmed the notice was a fake.